"I don't watch the Korean Series," said the MVP who had been frustrated... "Now, enemies become allies"... Kim Do-young's dream of winning a championship will be realized at the APBC

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

"I only watched when they won. I felt no frustration at all, just a lump in my throat."

Although he had declared that he would not watch the Korean Series, he could not look away at the moment the champion was decided. Knowing that exhilarating feeling better than anyone, Kim Do-young (23, KIA Tigers) felt a surge of emotion even at someone else's celebration.

Kim Do-young is now set to compete in the 2026 Asia Pro Baseball Championship (APBC). The opponents who had caused him frustration will now become his most reliable teammates. He is determined to achieve at the APBC the thrill he could not experience in the postseason.

In an interview with reporters before departing for Japan via Gimpo International Airport on the 9th, Kim Do-young stated, "I have no personal goals. The APBC is a tournament featuring many players under the age of 24, and it serves to prove that the future of Korean baseball is developing significantly." He added, "So I believe it is entirely possible, and I want to bring back the top spot as our result."

Kim Do-young, who was named the season's Most Valuable Player (MVP) two years ago, led his team to its 12th Korean Series championship trophy. Although he suffered from injuries last year, he delivered outstanding performances this season, winning the batting double crown, and once again dreamed of success in the postseason.

In the three games of the Junior Playoffs (JPO), he hit three home runs and drove in eight runs, advancing his team to the Playoffs (PO). In the five-game PO series, he posted a .350 batting average with one home run, one RBI, two walks, and five runs scored, along with an on-base percentage of .409, a slugging percentage of .600, and an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 1.009. However, he ultimately had to watch the Samsung Lions advance to the Korean Series after losing in a hard-fought Game 5.

After joining the national team following four days of rest, Kim Do-young had said he would not watch the Korean Series unless it involved KIA, but his gaze turned to the TV at the moment the champion was confirmed. "I only watched when they won," Kim Do-young said. "I felt no frustration because we lost; I just felt emotional. It seems like I always feel that way whenever a team wins."

He played in 135 games during the regular season, competed in the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, and then played eight tense postseason games. Now, without proper rest, he is heading back to the APBC stage.

He will push himself even harder for that emotional moment of victory. "My condition is excellent," Kim Do-young said. "Naturally, we are aiming for the championship, and since all players are participating, I believe it is entirely possible." He continued, "I have not felt physically exhausted or anything like that. Fortunately, I am well prepared because I had a long break period."

His hitting form did not fade in the postseason, following his regular season performance. "I didn't prepare differently," Kim Do-young said. "I just kept doing what I had been doing. My hitting pace seemed good from late in the regular season, so I only focused on maintaining it."

Team captain Han Dong-hee (Lotte) expressed high expectations for Kim Do-young, but Kim responded, "Actually, I think differently. Since all the other players are performing well, I felt that everyone would play well without exception. I thought to myself that I couldn't fall behind, so I needed to work even harder."

At the APBC three years ago, he managed only a .200 batting average, but his performance in subsequent national team games was different. At the 2024 Premier12, he posted a .412 batting average with three home runs and 10 RBIs. In the World Baseball Classic (WBC) last March, he recorded one home run, four RBIs, and three runs scored. He also contributed with four RBIs and five runs scored at the Asian Games last September, helping secure a gold medal.

"Unlike the Asian Games, this tournament features professional players, so my determination is even stronger," Kim Do-young said. "That makes it seem even more interesting. I have prepared well and believe we can perform sufficiently."

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

*This content was translated by AI.View Original