[Anchor]

KIA Tigers star hitter Kim Do-young is once again taking on the challenge of setting the record for the youngest player to hit 40 home runs today (September 5). Has he finally broken through his prolonged slump on the verge of the milestone?

Reporter Yu Byeongmin has the story.

[Reporter]

Ever since blasting his 39th home run of the season on August 26, Kim Do-young's home run clock has been stalled for nine days.

Amid the misfortune of having four games canceled due to rain, he managed to draw seven walks across the four games he played as opposing teams kept him in check.

He is currently continuing his pursuit of the record in the match against the KT Wiz, but despite the cheers of a full house of home fans, he remains stuck just one shy of the milestone.

In his first plate appearance in the first inning, Kim took a called strikeout on an inside fastball from KT starting pitcher Logan. In his second at-bat in the third inning, the opposing battery avoided pitching to him, allowing him to walk to first base.

His third plate appearance in the fifth inning was particularly regrettable.

When Logan's first-pitch changeup drifted right down the middle, Kim took a powerful swing, but mistimed it into a catcher foul fly.

In his fourth at-bat in the seventh inning, he went down with an infield grounder after a full-count battle against replaced pitcher Kim Jung-woon.

For Kim Do-young to surpass former manager Lee Seung-yeop's record for the youngest 40 home runs, he must clear the outfield wall by tomorrow (September 6).

(Video Editing: Park Gi-deok)