"Is (Park) Jae-hyun really going to play center field?" Kim Do-young, startled by the news, believes in the growth of his junior teammate who struggled in the fall baseball season [On-site at Gimpo]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

"Is Jae-hyun really going to play center field?"

Kim Do-young (23, KIA Tigers) could not hide his surprise. The suggestion that Park Jae-hyun (20), a junior teammate with limited experience, rather than Kim Ji-chan (25, Samsung Lions), who has proven abilities in both offense and defense, could lead the national team's center line elicited shock as his first reaction.

On the 9th, Kim Do-young met with reporters at Gimpo International Airport before departing for Japan to share his resolve ahead of the 2026 Asia Professional Baseball Championship (APBC).

Although he fought through grueling battles in the Junior Playoffs and Playoffs, he joined the national team immediately after a four-day rest. Kim Do-young, who achieved career highs this season with 45 home runs and a slugging percentage of 0.647 to win the batting double crown, also performed brilliantly in eight fall baseball games, posting a 0.358 batting average (10 hits in 29 at-bats), 4 home runs, 9 RBIs, and 9 runs scored. He was also named Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Junior Playoffs.

He appeared in 135 games and completed the fall baseball season after playing in the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. He will now proceed directly to the APBC without a break.

Nevertheless, Kim Do-young expressed confidence, saying, "My condition is very good. Naturally, we are aiming for the championship, and since all players are available, I believe it is entirely possible." He added, "I have not felt physically exhausted or that way at all. I had a long rest and am well prepared."

However, he could not hide his bewilderment when asked about his close junior teammate from his club team. The question arose regarding whether Park Jae-hyun, who played in 132 games this season in his second professional year, recording a 0.293 batting average, 19 home runs, 69 RBIs, 81 runs scored, and an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 0.802, could take on the role of center fielder for the national team.

Earlier, national team manager Choi Won-ho explained, "Kim Ji-chan's physical condition looks quite heavy. We will need to check after arriving in Tokyo, but if he has difficulty playing in the early stages of the tournament, I think Park Jae-hyun should take on center field."

Park Jae-hyun was an indispensable outfield resource for KIA this season, but he appeared in 96 games as a left fielder and 43 games as a right fielder, handling only five games and 34 innings at center field. Since he is not accustomed to the position even with his club team, doubts inevitably follow about whether he can perform well on the tense international stage.

Moreover, Park Jae-hyun experienced ups and downs in the fall baseball season under a different pressure than during the regular season. He managed only a 0.167 batting average (6 hits in 36 at-bats). Although he took the field as a high table setter with the mission of setting up the table for Kim Do-young, he did not receive a single walk and struck out nine times.

Kim Do-young countered with, "Is he really going to play center field?" before trailing off, saying, "I wonder if Ji-chan hyung will take on center field..." He knows Park Jae-hyun's value better than anyone, but it was hard for him to imagine entrusting the national team's center field position to him.

However, this is not due to a lack of trust. Although he left regrets in the fall baseball season, Kim Do-young firmly believes that Park Jae-hyun has grown further through the experience. Kim Do-young expressed his expectations, saying, "It seems Jae-hyun went through a lot during this fall baseball season." He continued, "Watching from the side, I saw him looking quite dejected and struggling, which made me feel a bit sorry for him, but he is experiencing a lot and thinking deeply. Since he has had the experience of failure, I look forward to Jae-hyun's performance in this tournament and believe he will do well enough."

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original