Austin, upon hearing Kim Do-young's name, immediately offered words of comfort: "I broke my nose too, so I understand how you feel. Since you're such a handsome guy, it won't affect your looks."

*This content was translated by AI.

LG Twins' "problem solver" Austin Dean (33) delivered a stellar performance, breaking his team's losing streak while also setting a new single-season home run record for the club. This came right after he had narrowed the gap to just two home runs behind fierce rival Kim Do-young (23·KIA Tigers), who is leading the race for the home run title this season. However, when reporters mentioned Kim Do-young's name, Austin immediately offered sincere words of comfort.

On the 12th, LG secured a 4-3 comeback victory against Samsung Lions in an away game at Daegu Samsung Lions Park. After falling behind 0-2, they turned the tide and escaped a four-game losing streak that had begun with their match against Jamsil Samsung on the 5th.

Austin was the key to LG's victory on this day. With two outs and no runners on base in the bottom of the third inning while trailing 0-2, Austin stepped up to the plate. He connected with the second pitch from starter Harada—a 145 km/h high fastball—sending it soaring over the left-center field fence for a solo home run (distance: 120 meters), igniting the comeback. This was his 37th home run of the season.

Austin's bat did not stop there. In the bottom of the fifth inning, with one out and no runners on base, he hit a 133 km/h low outside curveball from Harada's fifth pitch over the right-field fence for another solo home run (his 38th of the season, distance: 114 meters). With back-to-back solo home runs, LG tied the game at 2-2. In the bottom of the eighth inning, with one out, substitute Park Dong-won hit a double to right-center field, followed by Shin Min-jae drawing a walk and Park Hae-min hitting a single up the middle, loading the bases. Austin then delivered a two-run single to center field, tying the game at 3-3 and laying the foundation for the comeback. He collected three RBIs all by himself.

Notably, with his 38th home run of the day, Austin tied Roberto Ramos's record of 38 home runs set in the 2020 season, placing him joint first on LG's single-season home run list. Just one more home run would allow him to become the first player in Twins history to hit 39 home runs in a single season, achieving an unprecedented milestone.

At the same time, the race for the home run title intensified toward the end of the season. While Kim Do-young, who had reached 40 home runs, was sidelined due to an unexpected nose fracture, Austin hit two home runs on just this one day, narrowing the gap to only two. Especially since Kim Do-young will be called up for the Asian Games representative team starting from the 14th and cannot participate in KBO League games during his absence, Austin's remarkable power display at Jamsil—his temporary home—and now his signal shot for the chase at Daegu have plunged the home run race into an unpredictable showdown.

However, after the game, when Austin met with reporters, he expressed more concern about his rival's physical condition than the home run race itself. When asked about narrowing the gap with Kim Do-young, Austin burst out laughing and said, "Let only the fans worry about this competition. Although it may seem like a non sequitur, I think Kim Do-young and I now have something in common." He then added, "I also broke my nose back in 2014," sharing his own past experience. This referred to the moment he fractured his nasal bone after being hit by a ball during catch practice.

Austin continued, "Actually, when I heard that Kim Do-young had broken his nose, I felt truly heartbroken and empathized with how upset he must be." Yet he added, "But the good thing about nose injuries is that they can always be treated and healed quickly. Since Kim Do-young is such a handsome player (good-looking kid), it won't affect his appearance or future career at all," offering sincere encouragement with his characteristic cheerful wit.

Austin also mentioned, "When I had my own nose injury, I didn't undergo surgery; the doctor simply realigned the bone without any procedure. I rested for three to four days and returned to play immediately." He expressed hope that Kim Do-young would recover without major aftereffects.

Finally, regarding the franchise record of tying Roberto Ramos with 38 home runs, Austin said, "Ramos set a very high bar at 38 home runs, so I'm very happy to have matched it." However, he added, "While personal records are meaningful, what matters most is that I could contribute to the team's victory in crucial moments. That brings me the greatest satisfaction," demonstrating his team-first spirit as he left the stadium.

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*This content was translated by AI.