[Official] 'Kim Do-young's shortstop dream finally realized' Who is the star KIA suddenly invited? The coach of Japan's WBC national team has arrived

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Aishin Sogaki, who demonstrated strong defensive skills during his playing career, will serve as an instructor for the KIA Tigers.

KIA officially announced, "We are inviting Aishin Sogaki, a former Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) player, to serve as our defensive instructor for training at the Okinawa closing camp."

Aishin Sogaki joined the Hiroshima Toyo Carp in 2006 and retired after 11 years as an active player in 2017.

He won the Central League Rookie of the Year award in his debut year, 2006, and received the Golden Glove Award for shortstop along with the stolen base title in 2010.

During his playing career, he served as Hiroshima's starting shortstop, boasting a wide defensive range and stable defensive ability.

After retiring, he gained extensive coaching experience by serving as a coach for the Orix Buffaloes, Hanshin Tigers, and the Japanese national baseball team.

In particular, he also served as the infield defense and base-running coach for the Japanese national team at the 2026 World Baseball Classic held last February.

A KIA official stated, "We invited an infield defensive expert to serve as our defensive instructor to solidify the fundamentals of our young infielders and enhance their overall defensive capabilities." The official added, "We expect Aishin Sogaki's playing career experience and coaching know-how to be effectively passed on to the young players."

KIA plans for Kim Do-young to play shortstop starting next season. Accordingly, the team invited Instructer Aishin Sogaki, who has expertise in defensive guidance, to further accelerate efforts to strengthen their defense.

Meanwhile, Instructer Aishin Sogaki joined the player training on the 10th.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original