Three times, the name "Kim Do-young" was called at the draft site. Top prospects unanimously said, "The league's best hitter is Kim Do-young; I want to face him once."

*This content was translated by AI.

The name "Kim Do-young" (23, KIA Tigers) was called three times. Even among top prospects, the current best hitter in the KBO League is undoubtedly Kim Do-young.

The 2027 KBO Rookie Draft was held at Lotte Hotel World in Songpa-gu, Seoul on the 21st. First, managers from all 10 teams took turns at the microphone to announce their first-round selections. The drafted players, accompanied by their families, stepped onto the stage to share their initial impressions and aspirations as they took their first steps into professional baseball.

The host posed the same question to three of the pitchers selected: "Who is the hitter you most want to face once you join the pros?"

All three gave the exact same answer. Each pitcher unanimously said, "Kim Do-young."

Ha Hyun-seung, a two-way player from Busan High School selected first overall in the first round by Kiwoom Heroes, said, "As a pitcher, I want to face senior Kim Do-young, who hits the best among pitchers," and added, "As a hitter, I want to try hitting against senior Kwak Bin, Korea's ace."

Park Geun-seo from Seoul Design High School, who will wear the Lotte Giants uniform after being selected fourth overall in the first round, expressed similar sentiments. "I want to get a swinging strikeout against senior Kim Do-young, who is currently hitting the best, with a fastball," he stated his ambition.

Seolak High School's Min Ju-hong, selected ninth overall in the first round by Hanwha Eagles, also said, "I most want to face senior Kim Do-young of KIA Tigers," adding, "He is currently the league's best hitter and hits very well, so I want to face him."

The undisputed number one hitter in Korea, as seen by top high school pitchers, is undoubtedly "Kim Do-young."

Kim Do-young, who led his team to a championship and won the regular-season MVP in 2024, continues to shine this season. He boasts peak performance with leading the league in home runs (40), second in slugging percentage (0.639), third in runs scored (106), and fifth in RBIs (102). At the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, he serves as the leadoff hitter for the national team, driving toward South Korea's fifth consecutive gold medal.

The statement that "Kim Do-young is not just a star but a 'super star'" has been reaffirmed by players who will be responsible for the future of Korean baseball and each team.

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*This content was translated by AI.