Kim Doyoung Hits 4 and Scores 3 to Lead KIA's 3-Game Winning Streak... Bid for Youngest 40-Home Run Record Falls Short

Kim Doyoung (KIA Tigers) narrowly missed setting a new record as the youngest player in professional baseball history to hit 40 home runs in a single season.

Playing as the number three batter and third baseman in a home game against the KT Wiz in the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field today (the 6th), Kim failed to add a home run across five plate appearances.

After hitting his 39th home run of the season in a game against the Lotte Giants on August 26, Kim was on the verge of breaking the record for the youngest player to reach 40 home runs (22 years, 11 months, and 5 days), which was set in 1999 by Lee Seung-yuop, currently a hitting coach for the Yomiuri Giants in Japanese professional baseball.

However, having reached 22 years, 11 months, and 4 days of age as of today without hitting an additional home run, his attempt to set the new record fell through.

Professional baseball will take a day off tomorrow and resume the day after tomorrow, which marks 22 years, 11 months, and 6 days since Kim was born.

Although he did not hit any towering home runs, Kim reached base 100% of the time with a 4-for-4 performance at the plate—including four valuable singles and an intentional walk—along with three runs scored, leading his team to its third consecutive win.

Kim became the first batter this year to reach 10 intentional walks.

KIA won 8-3, sweeping the weekend three-game home series against second-place KT.

KIA took the first run in the 1st inning by combining Park Jaehyun's walk, Kim Doyoung's single to left field, and Harold Castro's single to right field.

In the 3rd inning, tied 1-1, they added two more runs following consecutive hits by Park Jaehyun and Kim Doyoung, an RBI double to left-center by Castro, and Na Sung-bum's sacrifice fly.

Cleanup hitter Castro exploded with 4 hits in 4 at-bats, including three doubles, and 6 RBIs—notably hitting a two-run double to right field with two outs and runners on first and second in the 6th inning while leading 3-2, and a bases-clearing double to right-center with one out and runners on first and third in the 8th inning while ahead 5-3.

KIA starting pitcher James Neil pitched through 6 innings, allowing 9 hits while giving up only 2 runs, securing his 10th win (6 losses) for the first time in two years since 2024 (12 wins).

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.