"There was no Japanese staff member who didn't know Kim Do-young" — Praise for Lee Seung-yeop, the legend with 626 home runs in Korea and Japan; Even to the eyes of the "Lion King," Korea feels small

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

"The staff members in Japan are also extremely interested in Kim Do-young. To the extent that there is no staff member who does not know the player named Kim Do-young."

Former Doosan Bears manager Lee Seung-yeop (50), known as the "Lion King," did not hold back his praise for Kim Do-young (23, KIA Tigers). He assessed him as a talent capable of growing into a world-class player beyond the Korean stage. Coincidentally, on the same day, Kim Do-young hit two home runs while wearing the national team uniform, once again proving his value.

Former manager Lee Seung-yeop took the mound for the ceremonial first pitch at the third game of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO Korea Series (KS, best-of-seven) between the Samsung Lions and KT Wiz on the 6th at Daegu Samsung Lions Park. Thanks to the victory-praying pitch by Samsung's eternal "Number 36," Samsung defeated KT 5-1, powered by Go Ja-wook's two-run triple and Ariel Hurdado's seven-inning one-run outing. Leading the series 2-1, they took a step closer to their first championship in 12 years.

Former manager Lee Seung-yeop, a graduate of Gyeongbuk High School, is a franchise star who joined Samsung as a high school free agent in 1995. He recorded a career batting average of .302 in 1,906 games in the KBO League, with 467 home runs, 1,498 RBIs, and an OPS of .961. He is decorated with five Regular Season Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards and ten Golden Glove Awards. The 56 home runs he hit in 2003 remain the KBO League single-season record.

After entering Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) in 2004, he left a legacy of 159 home runs while playing for the Chiba Lotte Marines, Yomiuri Giants, and Orix Buffaloes. This brings his combined career total in Korea and Japan to 626 home runs. At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, he led Korea to a gold medal with a comeback two-run homer against Japan in the semifinals and a go-ahead two-run homer against Cuba in the final.

Former manager Lee Seung-yeop, who has set numerous major records in Korea and Japan, focused on Kim Do-young. Speaking to reporters that day, former manager Lee Seung-yeop stated, "I do not think Kim Do-young is a player who should stay only on the Korean stage," adding, "I also watched his highlights and records from Japan, but Japanese team staff were also extremely interested."

He continued, "To the extent that there was no staff member who did not know Kim Do-young. I consider him our country's best player," emphasizing, "I hope he grows well to become a player representing baseball not only in Korea but around the world. I expect him to move to a bigger stage than now."

Indeed, Kim Do-young has grown into a batter representing Korean baseball. A graduate of Gwangju Dongseong High School, he was drafted by KIA as their first overall pick in 2022 and entered the pros. Although he finished his rookie year with a .237 batting average and three home runs, he showed potential with a .303 average in 2023. In 2024, he exploded with his potential. He recorded a .347 batting average, 38 home runs, 109 RBIs, 143 runs scored, and 40 stolen bases in 141 games, with an OPS of 1.067. He achieved the youngest-ever 30-home run-30-stolen base feat and won the Regular Season MVP, leading KIA to a unified championship.

In 2025, he was limited to 30 games due to consecutive hamstring injuries but made a brilliant comeback this year. With a .308 batting average, 45 home runs, 118 RBIs, and 120 runs scored in 135 games, along with an OPS of 1.060, he claimed his first career Home Run Championship. He also took the top spot in slugging percentage (.647), achieving a batting double crown. In the postseason, he won Series MVP with three home runs and eight RBIs against LG in the Junior Playoffs. He added a home run in the Playoffs against Samsung as well, but KIA was eliminated in the final fifth game.

He also left significant achievements while wearing the national team badge. In March, he contributed to Korea's advancement to the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) for the first time in nine years. In particular, in the group stage match against Taiwan, he was responsible for three RBIs alone with a comeback two-run homer and a tying double. At the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in September, he won a gold medal. Overcoming a fractured nasal bone injury, he played in all six games and hit a decisive run-producing hit in the top of the eighth inning while tied 1-1 against Japan in the final, leading Korea to its fifth consecutive Asian Games title.

Kim Do-young's gaze now turns to another international stage. He will participate in the 2026 Asia Pro Baseball Championship (APBC) held from the 12th to the 15th at Tokyo Dome in Japan. Having made his senior national team debut at this tournament in 2023, he gets a chance to wash away the pain of injuring his left thumb in the final against Japan at that time.

After finishing the fifth game of the Playoffs on the 1st, he joined the national team preparing for the Asia Pro Baseball Championship (APBC) at Daejeon Hanwha Life Ballpark. And in a practice game against the Military Sports Agency (Sangmu) held on the 6th, he hit two home runs.

The stage cited as his ultimate goal is Major League Baseball (MLB). Kim Do-young, who joined the league in 2022, can pursue overseas expansion through the posting system as early as after the end of the 2028 season if he obtains team consent and meets KBO registration day requirements.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.View Original