Is it another trial?
Yoon Do-hyun (22), KIA Tigers' Kim Do-young's high school rival and classmate, is currently sidelined due to getting hit by a pitch during a Futures game. On the 6th, in the second game of a doubleheader against Sangmu in Moonkyung, he was hit on the inside of his right elbow while swinging at a pitch that came in close to his body during his second at-bat in the third inning.
Fortunately, he avoided a fracture and received a contusion diagnosis. However, he was in significant pain after being hit in such a sensitive area. As a result, he halted his participation in games and could not continue the throwing training that was due. He was moved to the rehabilitation group and has only recently resumed skill training. He says the pain has subsided now. He will return to actual games soon.
This year, he entered the opening day roster for the first time, but within a week, he was demoted to the second team. Manager Lee Beom-ho had identified him as the fourth infielder to support the starting infielders during spring camp. It was a special backup aimed at enhancing his hitting ability. The plan was to use him as a starter immediately if any of the regular second baseman, third baseman, or shortstop were injured.
When star player Kim Do-young went down with a thigh injury after only two at-bats in the opening game against the NC Dinos on March 22, Yoon Do-hyun immediately came in as a pinch runner. In his first at-bat in the bottom of the sixth inning, he made an out on a ground ball to third base. In the bottom of the eighth inning, with the team trailing 1-2, he was replaced by Hong Jong-pyo for a sacrifice bunt opportunity with no outs and runners on first and second.
In the second game of the opening series on the 23rd, he was included in the starting lineup as the ninth batter and third baseman. He struck out in both of his first two at-bats and was replaced by high school rookie Park Jae-hyun in his third at-bat. During the game on the 25th against Kiwoom in Gwangju, he remained on the bench the entire time, but returned to the lineup on the 26th as the ninth batter and shortstop. In the top of the second inning, leading 2-0, he committed a fielding error that allowed four runs to score. Still, he made up for it with his bat, recording a double, a double, two walks, and scoring three runs.
However, the following day (27th), he was removed from the roster. This was a time when pitching reinforcement was needed, and there was another reason as well. There was significant pressure regarding his throws. The manager remarked, "If he makes another mistake, the player will be troubled throughout the season," and instructed him to resolve the throwing issues definitively while in the second team. This year, his first team stats were six at-bats with two hits and two walks in eight plate appearances. He had since returned to the second team and was working on resolving his issues when he was hit by a pitch just seven games later.
Yoon Do-hyun has faced repeated trials due to injuries. As a rookie in March 2022, he ended his season due to a fracture in his right hand after colliding with Kim Do-young while fielding a ball during a spring training game. In 2023, he suffered hamstring injuries twice. In 2024, he could not participate in spring training due to a side strain at the end of the camp, and while gearing up for a return in the second team, he missed the first half of the season due to fractures of the middle and ring fingers in his left hand.
This time, it does not appear to be an injury that will keep him out long-term, and he is expected to return to action soon. If he calmly rebuilds his body and skills, opportunities to contribute to the first team will undoubtedly arise. The two doubles he hit in the last game for the first team showcased that potential. At that time, former manager and current commentator Kim Sung-han praised him, saying, "He can catch the ball and hit it. He has talent."
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