"A Home-Run King Favored by Heaven?" KIM Do-young Remains No. 1 After Missing Two Weeks for the Asian Games; Fierce Race With Austin Dean and Sam Hilliard Looms

[Financial News] Was the concern simply too early? KIM Do-young’s (23, Kia Tigers) home-run title, which many thought had effectively slipped away because of his call-up for the Asian Games, has miraculously remained within reach. Meanwhile, the Tigers, who held firm despite missing key players, are entering a decisive six-game series in pursuit of a rise to third place with their full roster returning triumphantly.
The South Korea national baseball team, which won the gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya, returned home on the 28th and rejoined its clubs. For the Kia Tigers, it was like gaining a powerful reinforcement. During the two weeks without key players KIM Do-young, Park Jae-hyun and Seong Young-tak, the baseball world expected Kia to fall behind in the standings because of its severe loss of talent.
The result, however, was the exact opposite. Despite the concerns, Kia posted a valuable 4–2 record. The team found a way to cope with its depleted roster. Against nemesis NC Dinos, Park Jung-woo delivered a dramatic go-ahead hit with two outs and the bases loaded in the eighth inning. In a 5–1 rout of third-place rival LG Twins, veteran Na Sung-bum provided stability with his 29th home run of the season. On the mound, ace Nail delivered six scoreless innings behind a dominant sweeper, showcasing a perfect balance between pitching and hitting.

The real twist came in the home-run race. The two weeks KIM Do-young spent away with the national team represented a perfect opportunity for second-place Austin Dean of the LG Twins to overtake him. But Austin was weighed down by increased defensive attention following Moon Bo-kyung’s absence, declining stamina and the psychological pressure of being the team’s clutch hitter. In the end, he failed to hit a single home run during the two weeks without KIM Do-young and remained stuck at 39.
During that time, Sam Hilliard of the KT Wiz swung a hot bat and hit five home runs to reach 39. Yet first place still belongs to KIM Do-young, who has 40 home runs. Even after taking on the enormous disadvantage of being called up for the Asian Games, he has not fallen from the top of the standings.
Whether he becomes the home-run king really matters. It could have a major impact on the MVP race. 

The die has been cast. Beginning on the 29th, the Kia Tigers will play a decisive six-game series with both a rise to third place and the home-run title at stake. They will face the KT Wiz, led by Hilliard, in Gwangju from the 29th through October 1, then travel to Jamsil from October 3 to 5 for a do-or-die showdown with the LG Twins, led by Austin.
Coincidentally, these six games are more than a battle for the team’s rise to third place. They are direct rival matchups that could determine KIM Do-young’s home-run title and regular-season MVP award.
The best hitter in the 2026 KBO League will be determined by when KIM Do-young unleashes the power-hitting touch that had grown somewhat rusty during the Asian Games.
[email protected] Jeon Sang-il Reporter