"There is no problem even if I run."
Kia Tigers star player Kim Do-young (22) is close to returning to competitive play. If he passes the detailed examination without issues, he will participate in the games next week.
Manager Lee Beom-ho revealed Kim Do-young's return plan ahead of the game against the SSG Landers on April 13 at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field.
The manager said, "After the examination tomorrow (14th), I will set the return date. He says he feels fine. After a few days of being injured, he said he felt good. However, he needs to undergo a hospital examination. He is a young player and must continue to grow. It is better to come back only after a perfect check. That way, he will also feel psychologically secure."
He added, "He has the will to play. Running and base running have been perfectly checked. There have been no problems running since last week. If the examination is fine, he will go straight to competitive play. A few future games have been scheduled in 2 to 3 games."
If the examination results come back clear, he is expected to participate in the Futures game against the Hanwha Eagles midweek. He could return as early as the KT game on the 17th or during the three consecutive games against Doosan starting on the 18th.
Kia is further down in the standings as Kim Do-young was sidelined due to a hamstring injury in the opening game, and 40% hitter Kim Sun-bin is also out with a calf injury. The team has struggled with scoring, landing at the bottom. The news of Kim Do-young's return is expected to serve as a boon in terms of gaining momentum.
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