"I made a foolish mistake."
Kia Tigers right-hander Kim Do-hyun (25) has learned a lesson on the path to becoming a star pitcher. On the 29th, he made his first win of the season in the 2025 professional baseball game against the NC Dinos at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field, after starting for the first time in 6 games. He pitched 5⅔ innings, allowing 4 hits, 2 walks, and striking out 3 while giving up 3 earned runs. The offense exploded, scoring 13 runs to secure the victory.
It was his first win after two losses. That day, he lowered his earned run average (ERA) to 2.86 with solid pitching, and he has pitched 34⅔ innings. While it’s not average 6 innings, he has managed to pitch over 5 innings as a starter. His slightly high opponent batting average of .281 is a concern, but his on-base percentage allowed per inning of 1.27 is quite respectable. His quality start success rate is also 50% (3 times).
He is on the path to becoming a stable starting pitcher. In particular, including that day, he realized how much arrogance can bring about great trouble in his last two games. On the 23rd against Samsung in Daegu, he allowed 10 hits (1 home run, 1 walk) over 5⅔ innings, resulting in 6 earned runs. He had been an undefeated pitcher against Samsung with an ERA of just 1.08 since last year, but he collapsed under the onslaught.
The reason was his curveball. This year, he has been using the curveball as his main weapon and has been performing well. Due to his overwhelming confidence, he significantly increased his curveball usage rate. Samsung hitters thoroughly prepared to attack his main weapon and succeeded in doing so. "People around me said if it's really good, throw it often. I also got overly confident and increased my usage rate, which led to getting hit," he explained.
That day, he appropriately distributed his pitches against NC batters. He threw five types of pitches: fastballs (31 pitches), curveballs (23 pitches), sliders (17 pitches), changeups (11 pitches), and two-seam fastballs (8 pitches). Although curveballs were the most used among the breaking balls, he mixed in sliders and changeups. Except for the second inning where he gave up a home run, he navigated the remaining innings without allowing any runs. "I realized that I need to throw a variety of pitches," he said.
Another aspect of arrogance was in the moment he gave up a home run in a battle of strength against the opponent. That day, in the second inning with 2 outs and runners on first and second, he threw a 145-kilometer fastball to Kim Hyung-jun, who hit a massive home run to left. "The opposing hitter is strong against fastballs, but I wanted to challenge him. I made a foolish mistake. I cursed at myself," he lamented. Manager Lee Beom-ho unusually came up to the mound and scolded him, saying, "Get your head straight."
Kim Do-hyun is now at the starting point of becoming a starting pitcher. He appeared as an alternative starter 12 times last year, but this year he has been part of the starting rotation since the beginning of the season. He is challenging his career as a full-time starting pitcher for the first time. As he goes on a winning streak, he becomes confident, and occasionally that turns into arrogance, inviting trials. Overcoming these will be the nutrients for his growth. He demonstrated that on this day. Kim Do-hyun also expressed his determination to use it as a stepping stone for growth, saying, "I had a good experience."
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