KIA Tigers' Superstar Kim Do-young Suffers Hamstring Injury

Japanese media outlets have reported on the hamstring injury of KIA Tigers' star player, Kim Do-young. During the game against the Kiwoom Heroes on May 27, Kim hit an RBI single in the fifth inning and stole second base. However, he soon felt pain in his right thigh and was replaced by a pinch runner, Kim Gyu-seong.

Following the incident, Kim was taken to a designated hospital for a thorough examination, which revealed damage to his right hamstring. The team sent the initial examination footage to a hospital in Seoul for a second opinion, confirming a grade 2 hamstring injury.

Manager Lee Beom-ho expressed his disappointment before the game on May 28, stating, "It didn’t look that serious when he walked off, but the results are not good. It seems it will take longer for him to return to the first team. Even when he had a mild injury at the start of the season, it took a long time to recover. I’m not sure if he will return in the first half of the season. We will know more after a re-examination. Having Kim Do-young makes a world of difference for the team."

The Japanese sports outlet, Tokyo Sports, highlighted the impact of Kim's injury on the KBO League, noting, "KIA's superstar Kim Do-young suffered a right hamstring injury while stealing second base during the fifth inning against Kiwoom. He is expected to undergo a re-examination in four weeks, but a return in the first half of the season seems unlikely."

The report also mentioned that Kim had previously missed time due to a grade 1 left hamstring injury sustained during the season opener against the NC Dinos on March 22, returning to the first team on April 25.

Since his return, Kim has played in 27 games, boasting an impressive batting average of .337 with 7 home runs and 26 RBIs, including a remarkable streak of four consecutive home runs in recent games.

Tokyo Sports added, "This time, he injured the opposite hamstring, and the damage is more severe. It seems he was unable to hide his shock, as he made his social media accounts private shortly after the injury."

Last season, Kim Do-young led KIA to a championship with an outstanding performance, hitting .347 with 38 home runs, 109 RBIs, and 40 stolen bases, earning him the MVP award. He is considered a treasure of the KBO, with expectations for a future in Major League Baseball.