'A new all-time postseason home run record in sight' — Will the superstar's autumn end here?

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

The KIA Tigers have been pushed to the brink. The autumn of 'superstar' Kim Do-young (23, KIA) also faces the risk of ending right here.

KIA lost 4-6 to the Samsung Lions in Game 3 of the 2026 KBO Playoffs (PO, best-of-five series) held in Gwangju on the 29th, suffering their second loss (one win) in the series. They will end their season if they lose just one more game.

For Kim Do-young, the situation is all the more regrettable and desperate. This is because if KIA advances to the Korea Series (KS), he would have a chance to challenge for the all-time KBO single-postseason (PS) record for most home runs.

Kim Do-young, who won the batting double crown in home runs (45) and slugging percentage (0.647) during the regular season, continued his dazzling performance in autumn baseball as well. In the wild card series against the LG Twins, he led the team to a three-game sweep with a .333 batting average (three hits in nine at-bats) and eight RBIs, earning the series MVP award.

All three hits were high-value home runs. Following a go-ahead solo homer in the fourth inning of Game 1 and an insurance two-run shot in the eighth, he smashed a grand slam in the second inning of Game 3 while leading 3-0, effectively securing his team's advancement to the POs. Moreover, it was the youngest grand slam in PS history (23 years and 18 days), and its distance (145m) tied for the longest in PS history and set a new record in the wild card series.

His presence remained strong upon entering the POs. In Game 1 in Daegu on the 26th, he recorded two hits in three at-bats, two runs, one walk, and one stolen base, leading his team to victory. After drawing a walk with two outs in the first inning of a 0-0 game, he successfully stole second base and scored the go-ahead run on Castro's RBI hit. In the third inning, he also reached base on a hit with two outs, setting the stage for Castro's two-run home run.

In Game 3, he fired up his cannon again. In the third inning of a 2-2 tie, he pushed Bae Chan-seung's 152 km/h fastball over the right-field fence for a go-ahead solo homer. Although it did not become the winning hit due to his team's eventual comeback loss, it was a powerful blow sufficient to be called dramatic.

Kim Do-young is batting .455 (five hits in 11 at-bats) with one home run, three runs, and one RBI in three PO games. In particular, including the previous wild card series, he has already hit his fourth home run in six PS games this time around.

The all-time KBO single-season PS individual record for most home runs is six. Woods (2001), Choi Jun-seok (2013), and Oh Jae-il (2017, all Doosan) each hit six. They are followed by Shim Jung-soo (Doosan, 2000), Park Jeong-gwon (SK, 2009), and Diaz (Samsung, 2024) with five each. These six players share the commonality that their teams started from the wild card series or POs and advanced to the KS in those respective years.

If KIA writes a dramatic comeback story and advances to the KS with a 3-2 record, Kim Do-young could play at least four more games in the KS in addition to two more PO games, totaling six or more additional games. If he adds three home runs among those, his total would reach seven, leaving another great record in PS history.

Just as KIA fans dyed the cheering stands red in accordance with Kim Do-young's wishes, it remains to be seen whether KIA and Kim Do-young can respond to the fans' earnest hopes this time.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original