Cho Jae-young (43), KIA first team operations and running coach, who produced the KBO stealing king for two consecutive years, was convinced of Kim Do-young (20)’s potential as the future base stealing king.
During his time at Dongseong High School in Gwangju, Kim Do-young was evaluated as a 5-tool player and earned the nickname Lee Jong-beom. As a result, he was selected by KIA as the first pick for the 2022 rookie draft, and with a batting average of 40% in the exhibition game, he took the leadoff spot as the club’s first high school graduate rookie. However, he had a disappointing rookie season with a batting average of 0.237 (53 hits in 224 bats), an on-base percentage of 0.312 and a slugging percentage of 0.362 in 103 regular season games.스포츠토토
However, at least one of his running tools was clearly demonstrated. In high school, he reached first base in 3.96 seconds from home, and with his speed and quickness, he managed to steal 13 bases last year despite a small chance to get on base. It is the first time since Lee Jung-hoo (25, Kiwoom) stole 12 bases in the first year of his debut for a high school graduate rookie.
Kim Do-young, whom I met recently at the KIA spring camp, said modestly about these achievements, saying, “Honestly, I didn’t do anything well. Coach Jae-young Cho taught me how to attack the opposing pitcher, so I think I was able to play easily and comfortably. That’s why I’m very grateful to the coach.” showed
Coach Jae-Young Cho, who joined the KIA ahead of last season, has a high reputation as a runner-up coach. He started his professional leadership career as a defensive coach for Nexen (currently Kiwoom) in 2015 and served as the first-team tactical and main base coach from 2017 to 2021. His coaching method, which focused on the success rate rather than the number of stolen bases, made Kiwoom called the Athletics Club during that period, and in 2021, Kim Hye-seong (24, Kiwoom) won the title of the first stolen base king with 46 stolen bases (92% success rate).
Recognized for his leadership, he joined the KIA and led the turtle team, which ranked 9th in steals (73) and 5th in success rate (70.2%) in the 2021 season, with 1st in steals (103) and 3rd in success rate (75.7%). transformed into a team. Under the guidance of coach Cho, Park Chan-ho (28) regained the title of king of stolen bases after three years.
He was an assistant coach who had taught many fast-footed players such as Kim Hye-seong, Lee Jung-hoo, Lim Byeong-wook (28, Lee Sang-wook), Seo Geon-chang (34, LG), and Kim Ha-seong (28, San Diego), but even in his eyes, Kim Do-young’s potential was beyond imagination. In particular, in terms of his physical ability and simple focus, he was second only to Kim Hye-sung. Kim Hye-seong is one of the players with the league’s top-class hardware that major league scouts predict a high possibility of advancing to the big leagues, even though he has yet to show overwhelming batting results.
Coach Cho praised Star News, saying, “Kim Do-young’s physical ability is overwhelming. Looking at his speed, he is by far the top in our team and even looking at the entire league, he is similar to Kim Hye-sung.” Because he is skilled, his ability as a runner is ahead of him. However, (Kim) Do-yeong is also able to steal 50 bases in a season if he becomes the starting pitcher healthy and gains experience. He can record many stolen bases every year.”
In order to become the king of stolen bases in the future, we need to learn a little more. Coach Cho said, “In high school, it is possible to steal a lot of bases just with the physical condition you have. But pros are different. For example, even in the first and second teams, the pitcher’s slide step and the catcher’s shoulders are very different. That’s why (Kim) Do-young. Since last year, I have been asking them to run while thinking about a lot of data and videos.”
He continued, “(Kim) Doyoung got scolded by me once during the last season. I thought I had to get into the habit from a young age, so after the season started, I kept watching him and once left a loving reprimand. Before and after that, it completely changed.” “Fortunately, if you teach Doyoung, he will be able to master it. If he learns and grows like that, I think the number of stolen bases will follow suit,” he smiled.