"Of course!" Kim Do-young 30-30 Dalseong-gu, a brilliant KIA fan, received a bigger gift
Aug 15, 2024
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KIA Tigers' Kim Do-young (21) was the youngest in the KBO League, with 30 home runs and 30 steals. Kim Do-young fired a two-run shot over the middle in the top of the fifth inning with one out and one on first base in the Kiwoom Heroes match held at Gocheok Sky Dome on the 15th. Kiwoom starter Heyesus rolled up a high-course fastball 149km outside. Kiwoom center fielder Lee Ju-hyung chased the ball, but the ball soon went behind the fence.
With this home run, Kim Do-young reached the 30-30 mark after 20 years, 10 months and 13 days, and 111 games. Park Jae-hong's youngest 30-30 (22 years, 11 months and 27 days) and Eric Thames' minimum game (112 games) set in the 2015 season were simultaneously broken. He is the third Tigers player after Lee Jong-beom in 1997 and Hong Hyun-woo in 1999.
Kim Do-young's ball was picked up by a KIA fan couple in their mid-20s.
They readily delivered the ball to KIA officials who visited the stands to retrieve the commemorative ball. It is customary to return the corresponding reward when collecting the memorial. However, the couple expressed their willingness to deliver 30-30 Dalseong-gu to the club, saying, `Kim Do-young's signature ball is enough.'
Kia, which confirmed its true fan sentiment, rewarded it with a bigger gift. An official from KIA said "I thought the fan's heart was so simple that I couldn't just give him a signed ball."In addition to Kim Do-young's signed ball and signed bat, the couple decided to provide skyboxes for home games at Kia Champions Field in Gwangju on the date they wanted."
ppark@sportschosun.com
