KIA’s Kim Do-young Hits 10th Home Run: Is He the Next KBO Superstar?

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Kim Do-young, both the present and the future of the Tigers, surged into the double-digit home run club and delivered the game’s biggest moment.

The KIA Tigers beat the NC Dinos 9-4 at Changwon NC Park on April 29 in a 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League regular-season game, erupting for five runs in the top of the 10th inning to complete the comeback.

The victory evened the series at one game apiece after KIA avenged the previous day’s loss. KIA improved to 13-13 and reclaimed sole possession of fifth place, while NC’s winning streak ended as they fell to 12-14.

The defining blow came from Kim Do-young. Leading off the top of the 10th with KIA up 8-4, he crushed a solo shot over the left-center fence — his 10th homer of the season — putting the finish on a dramatic turnaround.

That blast made Kim one of the first hitters in the KBO to reach double-digit homers this year. Even more encouraging is his overall trajectory: he ranks among the league leaders not just in homers but in steals as well. At this pace, a 50-homer season is within the realm of possibility.

Kim fought through a slow start against NC starter Koo Chang-mo’s deceptive arsenal but stayed patient, drawing walks and reaching base in key spots. When it mattered most, he delivered the big swing that confirmed why he’s the backbone of KIA’s lineup.

While Kim closed the night, Kim Ho-ryeong controlled the early and middle frames. Set to reach free-agent eligibility this offseason, Kim put together a signature performance.

Trailing 0-3 in the top of the fourth, Kim led off and crushed Koo’s 133 km/h forkball for a left-field solo homer that ignited the comeback. He didn’t stop there.

The knockout punch came in the 10th. With one out and runners on second and third, Kim launched a 120-meter (394-foot) three-run homer that erased NC’s hopes of a rally. It was his second career game with two homers; he finished with three hits and four RBIs. Already regarded as an elite defender, Kim’s power display will only raise his stock as he heads toward free agency and give KIA flexibility in the outfield.

KBO stalwarts left-handers Lee Eui-ri and Koo Chang-mo engaged from the first pitch, and notably, every run in the game came via the long ball.

NC struck first. In the bottom of the first, with one out, Park Min-woo’s single set the table and Park Geon-woo crushed Lee Eui-ri’s 149 km/h fastball for a two-run homer. In the second, Cheon Jae-hwan added a solo shot to give NC a 3-0 lead.

KIA answered. Kim’s fourth-inning solo opened the scoring for KIA, and in the fifth Han Jun-su and Park Min hit back-to-back homers off Koo Chang-mo to knot the game at 3-3. Lee finished with five innings and three runs allowed; Koo worked six innings and also yielded three runs. Both pitchers flashed quality stuff, but a single mistake proved costly.

The middle innings were a back-and-forth affair. When NC regained a 4-3 lead on a costly error by KIA second baseman Jarred Day in the bottom of the sixth, momentum appeared to shift to the visitors.

But KIA’s late-game resilience carried the day. In the top of the eighth, with two outs and the bases loaded, they drew a bases-loaded walk to tie the game and force extra innings. After a failed bases-loaded opportunity in the ninth, KIA exploded in the 10th: Park Jae-hyun’s go-ahead RBI double set the table, followed by Kim Ho-ryeong’s three-run homer and Kim Do-young’s solo shot to complete the comeback.

Leadoff man Park Jae-hyun finished with three hits, including the game-winning RBI, showing promise as KIA’s new No. 1 hitter. Catcher Han Jun-su collected multiple hits — a homer and a double — making an impact on both sides of the ball.

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