Kim Do-young and 16 Other AG Baseball Team Members Return to KBO League for Pennant Race

National baseball team players, who achieved a fifth consecutive title at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, have rejoined the KBO League for the fierce final stretch of the pennant race.

The KBO announced that 16 players have been registered as active players ahead of the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League games held today (September 29). The list includes Noh Si-hwan and Moon Hyun-bin (Hanwha Eagles); Kim Do-young, Park Jae-hyun, and Seong Yeong-tak (KIA Tigers); Oh Won-seok and Park Young-hyun (KT Wiz); Moon Bo-gyeong and Kim Young-woo (LG Twins); Choi Jun-yong and Yoon Dong-hee (Lotte Giants); Bae Chan-seung, Kim Ji-chan, and Lee Jae-hyeon (Samsung Lions); Park Jun-soon (Doosan Bears); and Kim Ju-won (NC Dinos).

Among the Asian Games participants, eight players were not registered to take a rest, including pitcher Kwak 빈, who put on a spirited pitching performance in the final against Japan on September 27; pitchers Choi Min-seok (Doosan Bears), So Hyeong-jun (KT), and Kim Jin-wuk (Lotte); SSG Landers players Cho Byeong-hyun, Cho Hyeong-woo, and Jung Jun-jae; and Kiwoom Heroes catcher Kim Geon-hee.

The South Korean baseball team, consisting of players aged 25 or younger or in their fourth year or less since joining the league—excluding wild cards Kwak 빈, Noh Si-hwan, and Moon Bo-gyeong—returned yesterday after defeating Japan 3 to 1 in the final to claim their fifth straight Asian Games gold medal.

With about 10 games remaining for each team in professional baseball, the return of the Asian Games players is expected to intensify the final ranking battle even further.

In addition, Kim Do-young, who stands alone in first place with 40 home runs for the season, is expected to engage in a final home run race with Austin Dean (LG) and Sam Hilliard (KT, both with 39 home runs).

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