KIA Tigers outfielder Na Sung-beom (34) and infielder Kim Do-young (20) took the field side by side. They played in an away game against the Lotte Giants of the Futures League (2nd team) on the 20th.
As the designated hitter, Na Sung-beom went 스포츠토토 1-for-3 with one RBI and one run scored. Kim Do-young played third base and went 2-for-3 with a double and a walk. Two of his hits were long balls. He hit a double and a triple.
This season, KIA has been unable to utilize its two main players. Na Sung-beom joined the team after the World Baseball Classic (WBC) and focused on rehabilitation. A thigh muscle injury kept him out of official games until today’s game.
Kim Do-young was also disappointed. She fractured her toe against SSG Landers on April 2, the day after the opening day. He has only appeared in two first-team matches this year.
Both are expected to join the first team next week.
Coach Kim Jong-kook said on April 20, “It’s most important for them to get their match feel quickly. Na Sung-bum can play defense tomorrow if he’s okay. Kim Do-young’s movement in defense today was fine, but he said he had some pain when he stepped on the base.”
Na is expected to play about five games this week and join the team next week. “I think we’ll have to wait and see because he needs to play infield defense,” Kim Jong-kook said of Kim Do-young’s return. He is expected to be eligible for the roster sometime next week at the latest.
Recently, Kim Sun-bin, one of the main players, was sidelined with an injury. Once Na Sung-beom and Kim Do-young return, KIA Baseball will be back to full strength.