"Even with a broken nose, I will wear the Taegeuk mark" KIM Do-young, who has completed surgery, strongly determined to play in the Nagoya Asian Games

[Financial News] An unexpected injury has struck a baseball prodigy who was enjoying the best season of his career. Yet the fighting spirit of the 22-year-old KIM Do-young, who is determined to wear the Taegeuk mark, could not be stopped even by a broken nose. KIM Do-young, the Kia Tigers' 40-home-run hitter who collapsed after being struck in the face, successfully underwent emergency surgery overnight and is burning with determination to join the national team.
The Kia Tigers officially announced on the 10th, "KIM Do-young underwent reduction surgery for a displaced nasal bone fracture at Central Hospital, the club-designated hospital, on the night of the 9th." The club added, "He is currently receiving inpatient treatment and is scheduled to be discharged on the 11th."
Although his serious facial fracture initially raised concerns about a lengthy absence, the club is proceeding cautiously. The Kia Tigers said, "For now, we plan to keep KIM Do-young on the first-team roster rather than immediately removing him." The club added, "After his discharge, we will closely monitor the swelling and his recovery before deciding when he can resume baseball training and determining the exact timing of his return."
The frightening accident occurred on the 9th during a game against the NC Dinos in Gwangju. In the bottom of the fourth inning, with no outs and a runner on first and the team trailing 0-3, KIM Do-young attempted a surprise bunt. The ball glanced off the bat, popped up, and struck him squarely in the face. Bleeding heavily at the scene, KIM Do-young was immediately taken to a hospital, where he was diagnosed with a nasal bone fracture.

The injury was particularly shocking because KIM Do-young had been considered a leading candidate for the regular-season MVP after posting dominant numbers in 122 games this season: a .306 batting average, 40 home runs, 99 RBIs, and 10 stolen bases.
But the real drama began outside the operating room. Despite the injury, KIM Do-young, who was selected as a key member of the baseball national team for the upcoming 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games led by head coach Ryu Ji-hyun, is refusing to give up on participating in the tournament.
The Asian Games national team faces a tight schedule, with players set to convene on the 14th before departing for Nagoya, Japan, the site of the competition, on the 17th.
Under normal circumstances, his participation would be highly uncertain. However, KIM Do-young is reportedly conveying to the club and national-team officials his firm determination to recover from the injury by any means necessary, wear the Taegeuk mark, and take the field.
[email protected] Jeon Sang-il Reporter