The injury ward is packed with key players. 'MVP' Kim Do-young had to leave the roster again due to a shocking second injury.
KIA officially announced on the afternoon of the 28th, "Kim Do-young underwent cross-examinations today on his right hamstring and received the same finding of right hamstring damage as in the first examination. He will receive treatment for the injured area for the time being and undergo a re-examination in four weeks."
Kim Do-young made a critical hit in the 5th inning with two outs and runners on second and third, bringing the score to 1-2 against Kiwoom in Gwangju on the 27th. He attempted to steal second but experienced pain in his hamstring again at that moment. Ultimately, he had to leave the field.
Concerns became a reality. The first examination results indicated hamstring damage again, and the second examination found the degree of injury to be more severe than the first injury. This is a shocking second injury.
On March 22nd, Kim Do-young suffered a left hamstring injury during the opening game against the NC Dinos in Gwangju. At that time, it was classified as Grade 1, and he received a re-examination recommendation after two weeks. Subsequently, KIA approached Kim Do-young's injury cautiously, and after the two-week re-examination, he returned on April 25th. It was a return after 33 days. After coming back, he gradually adapted to the game rhythm while serving as a pinch hitter and designated hitter, improving his batting skills.
After returning from the injury, Kim Do-young was still impressive. Kim Do-young was the backbone of KIA. His cumulative performance may be lacking due to limited games played, but he recorded a batting average of .333 (33 hits in 100 at-bats), 7 home runs, 26 RBIs, 19 runs, and 3 stolen bases in 27 games, showcasing productivity that placed him 3rd in home runs and tied for 2nd in RBIs within the team.
Since Kim Do-young's injury, the team has won 10 and lost 14, failing to maintain a .500 winning percentage. However, when Kim Do-young played, the team often celebrated victories. The team has recorded 15 wins and 12 losses since Kim Do-young's return. The reason they are approaching a .500 winning percentage again is largely due to Kim Do-young anchoring the lineup. Both Na Sung-bum and Kim Sun-bin have also been sidelined due to calf injuries, and foreign slugger Patrick Wisdom has a back injury, leaving Kim Do-young and veteran Choi Hyung-woo to lead the batting lineup. Manager Lee Beom-ho has repeatedly warned against Kim Do-young's overexertion. In particular, for stolen bases, which can put strain on the leg muscles due to sudden starts, Manager Lee urged caution. He noted, "It's more important to contribute by hitting than to score through stolen bases. I'll leave the stealing to you, but you must take care of your body."
However, Kim Do-young ultimately turned Manager Lee Beom-ho's concerns into reality. As Kim Do-young left the team once again, KIA is now in an emergency situation. With both hamstrings injured, they must proceed very cautiously with rehabilitation. The four-week re-examination, combined with rehabilitation and technical training, means the first half of the season has essentially evaporated. With Na Sung-bum and Kim Sun-bin both in situations where it's difficult to gauge their return timelines, the fact that the backbone of KIA, Kim Do-young, is effectively confirmed to be out for the first half has left the team in despair. In fact, it seems Kim Do-young is the one who is more shocked. After suffering the second hamstring injury, Kim Do-young closed his SNS account. When he suffered the first hamstring injury in March, he wrote on SNS, "This injury is entirely my fault. Thank you for your concern and support. I apologize for disappearing after just one game. I will be back soon. For sure." However, this time he closed the account entirely. This suggests the depth of his sense of loss.
How will Kim Do-young and KIA overcome this hamstring trauma going forward? The present and future of the MVP are on shaky ground.
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