Sports · Baseball · 7 hrs ago
Kim Do-young’s final-game homer sends KIA straight to the semi-playoffs
KIA Tigers beat the LG Twins 4-2 in their final game of the 2026 Korean Baseball Organization regular season in Gwangju.
Kim Do-young hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning to break a 2-2 tie and secure the win.
The victory sent KIA directly to the semi-playoffs, giving the team four days to rest before the next stage.
The homer was Kim’s 45th of the season, enough to finish as the league’s home-run leader and top slugger by slugging percentage.
It also brought his career total to 100 home runs.
The performance strengthened his chances of winning the regular-season MVP award for a second time, after taking it in 2024.
Kim Do-young hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning to give KIA Tigers a 4-2 win over the LG Twins in their final regular-season game.
The victory sent KIA directly to the semi-playoffs.
The homer was Kim’s 45th of the season, securing the home-run title and the league’s top slugging percentage.
It also marked his 100th career home run.
Kim said it was the best home run of his career.
- Who
- KIA Tigers and Kim Do-young faced the LG Twins.
- What
- Kim hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning, giving KIA a 4-2 win and direct entry to the semi-playoffs.
- When
- October 12, 2026, in the season finale.
- Where
- Gwangju-KIA Champions Field in Gwangju, South Korea.
- Why
- The win secured KIA’s direct place in the semi-playoffs.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
KIA reliever Jeon Sang-hyun got out of a no-out, one-runner-on threat in the top of the inning.
Park Jae-hyun reached first on a bunt, then Kim Do-young hit a two-run homer to put KIA ahead 4-2.
KIA held on for a 4-2 win and secured direct entry to the semi-playoffs.
- Final score
- KIA Tigers 4, LG Twins 2
- Kim Do-young’s home runs in 2026
- 45
- Career home runs
- 100
- Home run distance
- 126 metres
- Venue
- Gwangju-KIA Champions Field, Gwangju
What people are saying
It was the best home run.
It was really thrilling and I felt the best.
Among my 100 home runs, this is the best one.
Sources
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