While Kim Do-young, who avoided a major injury, quickly recovered his physical condition, he expressed his gratitude to Jonathan Peraza, a foreign hitter of the Hanwha Eagles who clashed with him.
“I don’t think it was intentional,” Kim said in an interview with reporters after the end of Game 14 of the 2024 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League against the Kiwoom Heroes at Gwangju-KIA Champions Field on Tuesday. “Peraza truly worried about me. I think I was grateful.”스포츠토토
Kim started the game as the third batter and third baseman, and led his team to a 5-2 victory by scoring two hits, two RBIs and one run from four times at bat. Kim added two RBIs and became the third player in the KBO League history (formerly Hyundai Unicorns Park Jae-hong in 2000 and NC Dinos Eric Thames in 2015) to score 30 home runs, 30 steals, 100 RBIs and 100 RBIs. He became the youngest player to score 30 home runs, 30 steals, 100 RBIs and 100 RBIs.
Having failed to hit a homer and an RBI in the previous four games, Kim failed to produce satisfactory results in the game as well. At his first at-bat in the bottom of the first inning, he got on base by hitting an infield hit, but failed to score a run, and at the first and third bases with no outs in the bottom of the third inning, he garnered a grounder to the third base, and thus had to be satisfied with the addition of one RBI. At his third at-bat in the bottom of the sixth inning, he grounded out to the second base.
However, he turned the tables in his final at-bat. At the bottom of the eighth inning, when the score was tying 2-2, the two teams pulled Kiwoom starter Ariel Furado’s three-pitch changeup, and the ball was deflected off the third base before exiting the outfield. In the meantime, second baseman Socrates Brito headed home, and batter Kim Do-young completed his eighth triple of the season and 30 homers, 30 steals, 100 RBIs, and 100 runs.
Kia, which scored four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning alone including Kim Do-young’s score, maintained its lead until the end, winning four consecutive games and securing 80 wins for this season. “Congratulations on Kim Do-young’s achievement of 30 home runs, 30 steals, 100 RBIs and 100 runs,” Kia coach Lee Bum-ho said.
The achievement was even more valuable because it was achieved after overcoming the dizzying moment. Kim Do-young, who has been cruising since the opening of the regular season, had a dizzying experience during a home game against Hanwha on the 5th. In the top of the eighth inning, when Hanwha Jang Jin-hyuk hit a ground ball with two outs and runners on the first and second bases, he collapsed on the ground when he collided heavily with second baseman Peraza.
KIA Tigers infielder Kim Do-young collapsed on the ground after colliding with second baseman Jonathan Peraza at the top of the eighth inning with two outs and runners on the first and second bases in a home game against the Hanwha Eagles in the 2024 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League at Gwangju-KIA Champions Field on the 5th, and was replaced ahead of the top of the ninth inning due to dizziness. Yonhap News
Kim Do-young, who had been complaining of pain for a while, was replaced in the top of the ninth inning due to dizziness, and in the aftermath, he missed the game against Kiwoom the next day, focusing on rest and treatment. KIA manager Lee Bum-ho and the entire team had no choice but to pay close attention to Kim Do-young’s recovery.
The gap was not that long. Kim started as the third batter and third baseman at the game against Kiwoom on Sunday. He not only played offense but also defense. Neither the team that needed to secure victory to secure No. 1 ranking in the regular season nor Kim Do-young, whose personal record is at stake, had much time to catch their breath.
“I thought there was a car accident (when I collided with Peraza on May 5). It was the first time I felt it,” Kim said. “That’s why I was a little conscious when there was a runner at second base today (May 8).”
However, Kim Do-young faithfully performed her role as usual.
He adjusted his batting performance by posting one hit from four times at bat on Sunday, and on Sunday, he played two hits from four times at bat, including the finishing hit, contributing to his team’s four consecutive wins and 80 first-come-first-served wins in this season. He also achieved the feat of 30 homers, 30 steals, 100 RBIs and 100 runs scored for the third time in the history of the KBO league.
Kim Do-young said, “I think I had a lot of thoughts to play on my day off (6th) because all the players are going to endure that much pain and play. I was able to finish today’s game without pain because I ran thinking, “Even if I have some pain left, I will be able to relieve it if I run.”
He also thanked her. “I asked her if she was okay when I got hurt, and she was really worried, so I don’t think it was intentional,” Kim said. “She sent me a message early in the morning the next day, too. I think I was grateful to her.”