Who is the best hitter for the Tigers?
Lee Beom-ho, KIA Tigers manager, compared veteran Kim Sun-bin (36) and prodigy Kim Do-young (22) in terms of batting. He evaluated that Kim Sun-bin excels in creating opportunities while Kim Do-young has excellent clutch ability and is a rare type of batter. Kim Sun-bin is the 2017 batting champion and has contact skills at the highest level in the league. Kim Do-young is a prodigy with 38 home runs and 40 stolen bases. He is a special type of player who possesses power, precision, and speed.
The KIA lineup is gradually coming alive, overcoming a slow start, led by the rising batting performances of the two players. Kim Sun-bin has recorded 21 hits in 58 at-bats, with a batting average of .362, 11 RBIs, 8 runs scored, and an OPS of .905. He missed some time due to injury but has returned to showcase his outstanding hitting. His impressive contact skills have contributed to a very high on-base percentage of .439.
Kim Do-young has recorded 6 hits in 16 at-bats, with a batting average of .375, 1 home run, and 6 RBIs. Among his 6 hits are 1 home run and 2 doubles. Since his recovery, all 5 of his hits have resulted in either RBIs or runs scored. He has returned after a month from injury, displaying his unique clutch ability and creating scoring opportunities. The chances in the central lineup have increased thanks to the performances of both players.
Manager Lee Beom-ho praised Kim Do-young, stating, "Creating chances is something anyone can do. Do-young is a batter who performs well in critical situations alongside Hyung-woo. It is rare to find a player who can deliver hits and home runs when chances arise. He definitely has excellent ability to capitalize on opportunities. He should be placed in the batting order that resolves chances to increase scoring and winning probability."
He also praised Kim Sun-bin in comparison, saying, "I have no doubt about his bat. Do-young is a player with tremendous power who is hard to come by. Today, his ability to hit both long balls and singles with strength is innate. Sun-bin is better than Do-young at creating his own hits. I am worried that Sun-bin is performing too well. If the outcome is determined, I want to take him out, but the game is competitive."
Manager Lee is anxious about both players because of their injury histories. Kim Do-young has returned from a hamstring injury, and Kim Sun-bin has come back from a calf injury, but careful management is necessary. These are areas with a high possibility of recurrence. Kim Do-young has been restricted from stealing bases, and Kim Sun-bin is also being advised to refrain from aggressive base running. He noted, "Both players need to remain injury-free to sustain the lineup. They need to manage their physical condition well in consultation with the training team while competing."
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