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Kim Do-young Writes Another Chapter in History, Catches the Moment at Jamsil's Final Game After 45 Years: 'The Superstar Did Not Miss It' [Semi-Playoffs Game 3 On-Site]

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잠실=신화섭

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

KIA's Kim Do-young (top left) is greeted by his teammates after hitting a bases-loaded home run in the top of the second inning against LG in the third game of the semi-playoffs on the 20th. /Photo=Chief correspondent Kim Jin-kyung
KIA's Kim Do-young (top left) is greeted by his teammates after hitting a bases-loaded home run in the top of the second inning against LG in the third game of the semi-playoffs on the 20th. /Photo=Chief correspondent Kim Jin-kyung

The 'superstar' of the KIA Tigers, Kim Do-young (23), has left another new mark in Korean baseball history.

Kim Do-young hit a bases-loaded home run in the third game of the 2026 KBO League semi-playoffs (best-of-five series) against the LG Twins on the 20th at Seoul Jamsil Stadium. He did not miss the chance to etch his name into history in the final game at Jamsil Baseball Park, which is closing its doors at the end of this season.

Starting as the third batter and third baseman, Kim Do-young stepped up to the plate with one out and the bases loaded in the top of the second inning while his team led 3-0. With a 1-1 count, Kim Do-young swung powerfully at Kennedy's third pitch, a fastball down the middle (144 km/h). The massive drive landed in the upper section of the stands to the left of the scoreboard at Jamsil Stadium.

It was effectively a home run that secured 'Playoffs (PO) advancement' by instantly widening the score gap to 7-0.

Kim Do-young throws his bat after hitting a bases-loaded home run in the top of the second inning of the third semi-playoff game on the 20th. /Photo=Chief correspondent Kim Jin-kyung
Kim Do-young throws his bat after hitting a bases-loaded home run in the top of the second inning of the third semi-playoff game on the 20th. /Photo=Chief correspondent Kim Jin-kyung

Furthermore, Kim Do-young set a new record for the youngest player to hit a bases-loaded home run in KBO postseason history. At the age of 23 years and 18 days, he broke the previous record of 25 years, 8 months, and 22 days set by Kim Dong-ju (Doosan Bears; team affiliation at the time) in the fourth game of the 2001 Jamsil Korea Series against Samsung, a mark that had stood for 25 years.

The home run distance of 145m was also a new record for the longest hit in semi-playoff history (previous record: 135m by Park Byung-ho of the Kiwoom Heroes in the fourth game against LG at Jamsil in 2019, among two other instances). Across all postseason games, it tied the 145m mark set by Woods (Doosan) in the sixth game of the Korea Series against Samsung at Jamsil in 2001 (both records based on KBO official measurements since 2000).

With the home team LG eliminated from the semi-playoffs after a three-game losing streak, KBO League games will 'forever' no longer be held at Jamsil Stadium. The Playoffs will be played in Daegu, the home of second-place Samsung Lions, and Gwangju, KIA's home, while the Korea Series will alternate between Suwon, the home of first-place KT Wiz, and the home stadium of the Playoff winner.

Starting next year, home games for LG and Doosan will be held at a temporary stadium converted from the nearby Olympic Main Stadium for five years, and a dome stadium is scheduled to open on the site of the demolished Jamsil Baseball Park in 2032. Jamsil Stadium, which has been loved as the mecca of Korean baseball for 45 years since its opening in 1982, bid farewell to fans alongside the home run of a superstar that will be remembered for a long time.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original

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