"If that's the case," Kia's trade broke out in three years...Now, we're looking for a starter
"If that's the case," Kia's trade broke out in three years...Now, we're looking for a starter
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"(Kim) Do-hyun doesn't think he'll have a problem playing a full season if that's enough."
KIA Tigers right-hander Kim Do-hyun (25) will try to settle the starting rotation next year. Kim Do-hyun was impressive to KIA fans last year. It was the third year since he came to Kia in April 2022 through a trade. Lee Bum-ho, Kia's manager, enlisted Kim Do-hyun, who was a nurturing player, as an official player in May last year, and put him in the top tier team. Back then, his performance in the second tier team was so good. Kim joined Kia's second tier training facility in Hampyeong as soon as he was discharged from the military on Feb. 21 last year after completing his mandatory military service, and the extent of his increase in his speed was astonishing. Kim had an average fastball speed of around 140 kilometers before joining the military, but he had a maximum speed of 151 kilometers and an average speed of 149 kilograms before last year's call-up for the first tier team. This is why Lee wanted to see Kim Do-hyun on the mound in person.
Kim has lived up to his expectations. In 35 games (10 starts), he pitched four games and lost six games, had three holds, 75 innings and an earned run average of 4.92. In the Korean Series, he pitched as relief pitcher in two games and pitched three innings of one hit, one walk, three strikeouts, and no run, contributing to his team's overall win. As he was a first-team player with a strong sense of potential, both Lee and his coaches watched Kim's performance in the last season satisfactorily.
Jeong Jae-hoon, KIA pitching coach, said, "Do-hyun must have gained a lot of confidence last year. Even though he had a good ball, he pitched a little timidly. The coaches kept trying to remind Do-hyun that "Your ball is good." Then, I think he must have gained a lot of confidence because he played a big game called the Korean Series and had a good experience. If he enters the starting rotation this year, he will have a much better performance than last year, so we are also looking forward to it a lot." 먹튀검증
When Kia recruited Kim in a trade, it risked bleeding by giving up two right-hander Lee Min-woo (32) and outfielder Lee Jin-young (28) to the Hanwha Eagles. Kim Do-hyun was not a fastball pitcher even during his time with the Hanwha Eagles, but he was relatively good at throwing breaking balls such as curves, sliders, and changeups. Kia had high hopes for Kim's growth potential.
After moving to Kia, Kim took the mound in four games (two starting games), had one loss, 10 ⅔ innings, and 5.91 ERA, before joining the military immediately in August that year. As a young player in his early 20s, he chose to move one step away from baseball, build up his body, and resolve military issues first.
The 18 months spent in the military were not in vain. It was a period that laid the groundwork for the rapid rise of his arrest. "I am sometimes surprised to see my arrest (150 kilometers per hour) like that," Kim Do-hyun said. "I tried to keep weight training and running because there was nothing I could do in the military. After coming back from the military, the second-tier coach or coach helped me a lot."
Kia's coaches, including Lee Bum-ho, acknowledge Kim's pitching capability. Last year was a more meaningful season as Kim himself gained confidence that his ball worked in the first team, rather than just a record. Taking this as a springboard, the new year should be a season where he can secure his position in the first team. To do so, he needs to become stronger psychologically on the mound.
"Any pitcher will definitely have a bad situation on the mound. You have to be good at controlling damage to bad situations and bad results," coach Chung said. "That's all for Do-hyun. In baseball, if today's game is over, we have to go back to square one tomorrow and play the next game. We have to quickly forget bad things and control such damage to make things a good situation again. Do-hyun saw a pattern in which he improved that part throughout the season, but if one thing is bad, everything else will get worse in a series due to that problem. If he controls it well, he will have no problem playing the entire season. He is in good physical condition and good stamina," he said, giving advice and encouragement.
Kia has decided on one-two punch James Nail (32) and Adam Oller (31) this year, while left-hander Yang Hyeon-jong (37) is the only remaining two starting pitchers in Korea. Kim Do-hyun and Yoon Young-chant (21) and Hwang Dong-ha (23) are expected to compete for the remaining two spots. Left-hander Lee Eui-ri (23) had elbow surgery in June last year, which made it difficult for him to join the starting rotation from the beginning. Rookie Kim Tae-hyung (19), in the first round in 2025, is also a candidate for the starting lineup. Even though the two spots are empty, competitors are not easy. Will Kim once again stand out from the spring camp and start his first season as a full-time starting pitcher.