KIA Tigers right-hander Kim Do-hyun, 24, did not make the 2024 Opening Day roster. He wasn’t even on the 22-pitcher roster for spring training in February. He was still in the military until Feb. 21. Upon his discharge, he joined the Future Team as a developmental player. At this point, no one knew that Kim would become a member of the Korean Series championship team.
He caught the attention of the first team after throwing an unusual ball in a Futures League game. His fastball was no longer in the low 140s. He threw a fastball that was close to 150 kilometers. He also threw a variety of changeups. On May 3, he was promoted to the first team as soon as he became a full-time player. The team needed a right-handed bullpen arm that could go multiple innings.
He threw a 152-kilometer fastball and filled in as the closer when starter Yoon Young-chul went down with a microfracture in his spine in July. He showed promise in 10 games as a starter. He pitched five innings four times, including a seven-inning no-hitter against Samsung in his last start. Together with Hwang Dong-ha, he filled the gap in the starting rotation and helped the team win the regular season title. He was Kia’s best hitter in the 2024 season.
Against Samsung,
He was strong with four hits, three walks, and nine strikeouts in 10⅔ innings over three games, including a save, so he was expected to perform well in the Korean Series. Manager Lee Beom-ho gave him the task of starting Game 4 or coming in immediately if the starters in Games 1-3 faltered. In Game 3 in Daegu, he came in to save the day in the bottom of the seventh inning with a 2-4 deficit and recorded two outs. He pitched a clean game in his first Korean Series start.
He was outstanding in Game 5, which clinched the championship. Yang was shaken up in the top of the third inning when he gave up a back-to-back homer to Diaz. 메이저사이트 He had already given up five runs and was removed from the mound. Kim Do-hyun came in to pitch the next five innings, allowing just one hit and striking out seven. The team tied the game in the fifth inning and rallied in the sixth to win 7-5. Do-hyun Kim won his first Korean Series title. It was a thrilling feeling.
“He had a bad start, and I was able to follow up well,” Kim said. On the one hand, it was unfortunate (that he went down early), but on the other hand, I was glad that I was able to stop him. I was in a losing situation, so I was trying to get out of the game as quickly as possible without giving up any hits. He said, ‘You did a great job. He said, ‘You did a great job, you worked hard,’ which is what you deserve. It’s good to win like this,” he laughed.
At first, I was surprised to be on the Korean Series roster.
“At first, I was surprised to be on the Korean Series roster. It was a great game to help us win the championship. It didn’t matter if I started or batted in the middle. The manager said that he would put me right behind him when it was important, and I’m grateful that he thought about it a lot. The manager and coach believed in me, so I tried to repay their faith,” he said.
“The idea was to get out of the military and try to make the first team in the September expansion roster. Luckily, I got called up in May and Young-chul got a back injury, so I took his place. It was a good experience. I kept going and it was a very happy year until the Korean Series. It’s so unbelievable to win,” he said. He himself was surprised to be called up to the first team after his discharge, win the regular season and the Korean Series.
He also showed his desire to become a true starter next season. He wanted to do even better. “I will try to prepare well so that I can enter the opening game next year, whether it’s a starter or bullpen. First, I want to improve my changeup a lot, and I think I can get used to my fastball by continuing to throw it,” he said. Kia has acquired a powerful right-hander.