▲ National Baseball Team Manager Ryu Ji-hyun (right) answers questions from reporters during a press conference on the 11th at the Korea Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, to unveil the final roster for the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games baseball national team.
The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) Competitiveness Enhancement Committee has decided to determine whether to replace key infielder Kim Do-young (KIA Tigers) of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games baseball national team based on medical diagnoses regarding his nasal bone fracture injury.
Cho Gye-hyun, head of the Competitiveness Enhancement Committee, stated today (the 10th), "At this point, replacing a player on the Asian Games national team is only possible when an existing player gets injured," adding, "We will decide whether to replace the player by comprehensively reviewing the severity of the injury and his ability to maintain game performance."
He went on to explain, "Player replacement is not based on the player's own wishes, but rather on the medical diagnosis, opinions, and judgments of the Competitiveness Enhancement Committee based on related details," and noted, "In Kim's case, the first step is to check the medical staff's opinions."
Cho added, "We understand that Kim received a diagnosis of a nasal bone fracture during his initial examination yesterday, but the exact severity of the injury has not yet been confirmed," and "Once the precise diagnosis results come out this afternoon, the Competitiveness Enhancement Committee will begin discussions based on them."
Yesterday, during a home game against the NC Dinos held at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field, Kim was struck in the face by a batted ball that rebounded off his bat while attempting a surprise bunt with no outs and a runner on first in the bottom of the 4th inning, leading to his substitution.
He immediately went to a hospital designated by the team for a detailed examination, where he was diagnosed with a fractured nasal bone.
Consequently, he underwent a closed reduction surgery for the nasal bone fracture, a procedure to reposition the broken nasal bone back to its original place.
After receiving inpatient treatment, he is scheduled to be discharged tomorrow (the 11th).
Having undergone surgery, he is reportedly unable to play in games immediately.
The KIA club stated, "We will determine Kim's return timing after monitoring his recovery status," and "We plan to set the timing for skill training after observing his recovery following discharge."
Kim reportedly expressed his strong determination to participate in the Asian Games through the club.
The issue is time.
The Asian Games baseball national team is scheduled to assemble on the 14th and move to Nagoya on the 18th.
Following this, they will play a Group B match against Taiwan on the 21st, Hong Kong on the 22nd, and Thailand on the 23rd, undergo the Super Round from the 25th to the 26th, and play the medal match on the 27th.
Although more than 10 days remain until the game against Taiwan, it is difficult to guarantee whether he can maintain his condition as normal training will be challenging for the time being.
Given his fractured nasal bone, it is realistically considered difficult for him to play third base, a position that requires handling hard-hit balls and a heavy workload.
A significant blow to the South Korean national team's competitiveness is also inevitable.
Currently, there are a total of 7 infielders on the national team: Kim Do-young, Moon Bo-gyeong (LG Twins), Noh Si-hwan (Hanwha Eagles), Jung Joon-jae (SSG Landers), Lee Jae-hyeon (Samsung Lions), Kim Joo-won (NC Dinos), and Park Jun-soon (Doosan Bears).
Among them, the players capable of playing third base are Kim Do-young, Moon Bo-gyeong, and Noh Si-hwan.
However, Moon has recently been unable to properly play through the KBO League schedule due to lower back pain, making it difficult for him to step up as a fielder in the Asian Games.
Ultimately, Noh Si-hwan is virtually the only option to play third base, but in that scenario, there would be a lack of resources at first base.
Initially, the national team planned to utilize Kim Do-young at third base, while deploying Moon Bo-gyeong and Noh Si-hwan at first base, third base, or as designated hitters.
Due to Kim's injury, substantial revisions to the national team's infield operation plan have become inevitable.
Using a player replacement card is also worth considering.
(Photo: Captured from Tving broadcast, Yonhap News)
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