Kim Do-young Becomes First Domestic Player in KIA History to Hit 40 Home Runs

Professional baseball infielder Kim Do-young (22) of the KIA Tigers has finally reached the 40-home run milestone.

During an away game against the Samsung Lions in the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League held at Daegu Samsung Lions Park today (September 8), Kim launched a solo home run in the top of the 6th inning to narrow the gap while trailing 1-4.

Stepping up to the plate as the leadoff hitter, Kim attacked the first-pitch fastball from Samsung's second pitcher, Satoshi Miyamori, blasting his 40th home run of the season far over the left-field fence.

Having hit his 39th home run of the season in a game against the Lotte Giants in Busan on August 26, he found his rhythm again after 7 games and achieved 40 home runs in a single season for the first time since his debut.

Although he missed the record for the youngest player in KBO League history to hit 40 home runs, previously set by Lee Seung-yeop (coach at the Yomiuri Giants), Kim established numerous other milestones.

First, he became the second player in KIA franchise history to reach the 40-home run mark, following Tracey Sanders (40 home runs) in 1999, and the very first domestic player to do so.

Across the entire KBO League, he achieved the 40-home run milestone as a domestic player for the first time in 8 years, following Kim Jae-hwan of the Doosan Bears (44 home runs), Park Byung-ho of the Nexen Heroes (42 home runs), and Han Yu-sum of the SK Wyverns (41 home runs) in 2018.

Kim, who leads the league in home runs, widened his lead to 4 players over second-place Austin Dean (LG Twins, 36 home runs) with this home run.
 

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