"I’ve only played 27 games...".

KIA Tigers star hitter Kim Do-young (22) was selected for the 2025 All-Star Best 12. This was despite only having participated in 27 games with 111 at-bats, yet he received overwhelming support from fans, earning an invitation to the star-studded event for the second consecutive year. Although it remains to be seen whether he will participate in the All-Star Game due to an injury, the possibility is not entirely out of the question, depending on the pace of his rehabilitation.

The KBO officially announced the All-Star Best 12 roster on the 23rd. The Best 12 for the All-Star Game was determined through a combined total of fan voting (70%) and player voting (30%) conducted over three weeks from June 2 (Monday) to June 22 (Sunday) through three voting pages: KBO’s website, the official KBO app, and the Shinhan SOL Bank app.

Kim Do-young was selected as the Sharing All-Star third baseman. He received 1,099,680 votes in the fan voting, significantly outperforming second-place Kiwoom’s Song Seong-mun (775,704 votes). In player voting, he ranked second with 111 votes, just two votes behind LG's Moon Bo-gyeong (113 votes). With overwhelming support from fans and a high evaluation from the players, he became an All-Star Best.

He was a superstar who dominated the league last year, leading to victories in both the regular season and the Korean Series. He posted remarkable statistics with a batting average of .347, 38 home runs, 40 stolen bases, 109 RBIs, 143 runs scored, and an OPS of 1.067. This was his first selection to the "All-Star Best 12," and he also claimed the regular season MVP and the Golden Glove in the third baseman institutional sector. He was an icon of attraction, leading the KBO league's first 10 million spectators. He is also considered a strong MVP candidate this year.

Contrary to expectations, he was sidelined during the opening game due to a left hamstring injury, creating a significant wrinkle for the team. After returning 33 days later, he showcased his clutch ability and power-hitting instinct, leading the offense. As mid-May approached, he quickly raised his performance, hitting home runs in four consecutive games and entering a power-hitter mode. However, on May 27 during a game against Kiwoom in Gwangju, he successfully stole second base but suffered a right hamstring injury, causing him to be sidelined again.

He was again sidelined due to injury, just 33 days after his return. The extent of the muscle damage was more severe than the initial injury, extending his time out. He has been focused on injury treatment since being placed on the injured list. He needs to undergo a detailed examination this week for a precise return schedule. The timeline for his return is uncertain, depending on the condition of the injured muscle. Coach Lee Bum-ho is hoping for his return in the second half of the season. There remains the possibility of participating in the All-Star Game for the fans.

Song Seong-mun, Moon Bo-gyeong, and Roh Si-hwan (Hanwha), who competed with Kim Do-young in the Sharing All-Star third baseman institutional sector, are all actively playing as starters with over 300 at-bats. Kim Do-young, having missed two opportunities due to injuries, has had limited at-bats and defensive innings. He has recorded 27 games, 111 at-bats, 100 hits, 33 hits, 7 home runs, 9 doubles, 3 stolen bases, 26 RBIs, 19 runs scored, and an OPS of 1.008.

Despite this, he was proudly selected with the support of fans and teammates. His exceptional skills and popularity have been acknowledged to this extent. While he may feel honored to be selected, he likely also feels a deep sense of regret towards his teammates and fans. Therefore, it is all the more important that he does not get injured going forward. Coach Lee has also stated, "When I return, I will seek ways not to injure my hamstring."

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