If there was any question whether Kim Do-yeong would suffer a letdown after a likely MVP season and a KBO championship, Thursday’s Premier12 contest provided an emphatic answer. The 21-year-old blasted two home runs, including a grand slam, to power South Korea to an 8-1 win over Cuba. As if the pair of longballs wasn’t enough, Kim collected a double and turned in a fine defensive play.
???? Flashback to the 2nd inning: Doyeong Kim doing Doyeong Kim stuff! ????????Snags that double from Yadir Drake to close the inning! ????⚾️#Premier12 || @Premier12 | @KBOleague pic.twitter.com/YTbFNby3ED
— WBSC ⚾???? (@WBSC) November 14, 2024
Kim’s 2024 breakout was one of the main stories of the KBO season. The third-year third baseman set a new record with 143 runs scored and flirted with the second 40-40 season in the league’s history. While he ultimately fell two home runs short, he finished near the top of the leaderboard in both home runs and stolen bases, in addition to placing third with a .347 batting average. Kim’s record-setting performance helped the Kia Tigers clinch the league’s best record, setting the stage for a five-game victory over the Samsung Lions in the Korean Series.
10월 23일 (수) 삼성 vs KIA
내가 누구? 슈퍼스타! 김도영 파워풀한 솔로포!#KBO2024 #KBO #하이라이트 #야구하이라이트 #스포라이트 #SPOLIGHT #4K #UHD #포스트시즌 #한국시리즈 #KS #2차전 #KIA타이거즈 #KIA #김도영 #파워 #솔로포 #홈런 pic.twitter.com/TBD3uiVAFt— 스포라이트 SPOLIGHT (@spolight___) October 23, 2024
Though Kim’s talents are well known in KBO circles, his Premier12 performance is helping him get on the map as a global baseball icon. According to MyKBO’s Dan Kurtz, over 20 MLB scouts were in attendance to watch Kim’s exploits, and he even caught the attention of J.P Morosi.
Doyeong Kim has arrived tonight as a global baseball star.
Grand slam.
Double.
*Two* brilliant catches at third base to take away extra-base hits.
Great call here by @a_dot_reynolds on the @WBSC broadcast.
????????@MLBNetwork @Premier12 pic.twitter.com/2hIdyo2tqz
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) November 14, 2024
On Friday, Kim and South Korea will be back in action for a critical showdown against Japan.
