“What? Me?”
Professional baseball Hanwha Eagles infielder Lee Do-yoon (29) thought he had misheard when he was told by head coach Yang Seung-kwan at the end of last month that he was an “All-Star player.” He had not misheard. Selected as a recommended player by the coach, Lee Do-yoon participated in the 2025 KBO All-Star Game for the first time on the 12th at Hanwha Life Park in Daejeon.
Before the game, Lee Do-yoon said, “I still can’t believe it. I wondered if I would ever make it to the All-Star Game, and now that I’m here, it’s meaningful. Everything about this situation is fun. It hasn’t even started yet, but it’s been fun since yesterday,” he said with a big smile.
It was an All-Star Game he never expected. He said, “I didn’t see it coming. I didn’t even expect to be nominated since I wasn’t even on the candidate list, but it turned out this way,” and added, “Thanks to (Kim Kyung-moon) the manager seeing me positively, I was recommended to come. I am grateful,” he noted.
Manager Kim Kyung-moon mentioned that one reason he recommended Lee Do-yoon was that “he’s married with children. It wouldn’t look good for a hardworking new father to participate in the All-Star Game.”
Though manager Kim Kyung-moon commands the team with strong charisma, he is also warm and thoughtful. He wanted to take care of Lee Do-yoon as he had spent the last two years as a primary shortstop, only to be pushed back to a backup position this year after the arrival of free agent Shim Woo-jun. Lee Do-yoon infused the team with his unique positive energy, covering all infield positions and performing salt-like contributions in offense and defense. Manager Kim Kyung-moon commented on Lee Do-yoon, saying, “He has a spirit of sacrifice for the team. He’s a player I’m grateful for and also feel sorry for.” The All-Star selection is Kim Kyung-moon’s appreciation for Lee Do-yoon’s usual spirit of sacrifice.
Lee Do-yoon welcomed his first child in July 2023 and his second daughter was born in June this year. On this day, both of his children and his wife came to the All-Star Game, creating unforgettable memories. During his first at-bat in the second inning, Lee Do-yoon walked up to the plate holding his son and performed a show while holding a portable LED board that read, “I have two kids. It’s my 11th year. I’m 30 years old.” Though often mistaken for a rookie due to his young looks, he has spent a long time persevering in the minor leagues.
Graduating from Buk-il High School and having represented the youth national team, Lee Do-yoon joined Hanwha during the 2015 draft as the 24th overall pick in the second round. Until 2019, he appeared in just two games in the first team over five years. Most of his time was spent in the minor leagues, and after finishing military service, he made his debut hit late in the 2020 season. From 2021, he often appeared as a backup in the first team, and from mid-2023, he emerged as the starting shortstop, showcasing stable defense.
Lee Do-yoon seemed to secure his place as the starting shortstop after playing 106 games in 2023 and 134 games last year, but with the arrival of free agent Shim Woo-jun this year, he started again as a backup. Though he could have felt disappointed at losing his starting position, he focused his mind and prepared as a versatile backup for all infield positions, taking advantage of every opportunity. Since June, he has been used as a regular at second base. In the first half, he recorded a batting average of .236 with 37 hits in 157 at-bats and 25 RBIs. While not eye-catching, his outstanding execution of plays and strong clutch hitting provided an impact beyond mere statistics. He consistently started whenever ground-ball-inducing pitchers were on the mound, contributing to Hanwha’s first-place run in the first half.
Reflecting on the first half, Lee Do-yoon said, “Every time we win, it has been amazing. As we definitely compete for ranking, each game feels more tense and tiring, but all my teammates performed well, allowing us to finish the first half magnificently. I think my contribution to the first half was about 4-5%. Since the other players performed extraordinarily well, especially the starting, closing, and relief pitchers, as well as the key hitters, I could play without pressure. With a positive mindset, I managed to have many good plays in defense.”
When Hanwha made it to the postseason for the first time in 11 years in 2018, Lee Do-yoon, who was a minor league player, did not watch the TV broadcasts properly. “When we placed third in 2018, I wasn’t really in the first team, so I didn’t feel it. I watched fall baseball, but not much. I felt frustrated because I wasn’t there,” recalled Lee Do-yoon. He continued, “This year is my first competition for rankings. It’s tough but fun. I want to perform better in the second half than in the first. I think that way, the team can maintain its ranking and become even stronger.” After showing his unique contact skills by recording two hits in the All-Star Game, it will be interesting to see if Lee Do-yoon can continue his impressive play in the second half.
[OSEN]