Yoon Do-hyun (21), an infield prospect, showed off his strength. 먹튀검증
In a practice game against the KT Wiz held at Kin Baseball Stadium in Okinawa, Japan on Saturday, Yoon started as the third batter and had four hits (one homer) and one RBI and one run from five times at bat. Yoon was the only batter among the two teams who hit three or more hits on the day. Adding a triple is a "cycling hit" (hit for the cycle). KIA lost 3-4, but was able to laugh thanks to Yoon's performance.
Yoon had a hit in the middle of the first inning with one out and a runner on the first base against KT's starting pitcher William Cuevas. At his second at-bat in the third inning, he hit a 128km/h slider by KT's second pitcher Won Sang-hyun in the absence of a runner with two outs, and connected it to a left-handed homer. His performance didn't stop there. In the fifth inning with a ball count of two and a runner on the second base with one out, Yoon hit a left-handed hit. In the seventh inning with one out and no runner on the third base, Yoon hit a double that went out to the outfield. At his last at-bat in the ninth inning when his team was trailing 3-4, Yoon sent a hit well towards the left field, but was caught in defense.
"I had no idea (whether cycling hit was possible). I think I was aiming for a big hit (in the ninth inning) because I had a one-run gap," Yoon told reporters after the game. On the home run, he explained the situation, saying, "I thought I should hit the first pitch just by looking at the fastball."
Yoon Do-hyun, a graduate of Gwangju Jeil High School, was selected as the 15th overall pick in the second round of the 2022 Rookie of the Year. He competed with Kim Do-young, a graduate of Gwangju Dongseong High School, for the position of the best infielder in the Gwangju region. When he was in middle school, he was rated as "better than Kim Do-young," but after entering high school, Kim Do-young gained the upper hand, as evidenced by the nomination rankings. Coincidentally, both players joined Kia, a local club, and received high expectations.
After joining the pro team, Yoon displayed minimal performance. The problem was his injury. During an exhibition game in March 2022, he fractured his medulla oblongata. He also injured his hamstring last year. He made his dream debut in the first team (against the LG Twins in Gwangju on May 28), but that was all he played in the first team this season. Having trained constantly throughout the winter, he is being tested at the second camp in Japan, following the first camp in Australia.
"All the seniors told me that I would do well if I was careful with my injuries," Yoon said. "I think I need to make up for my defense, so I am focusing more on defense in this camp." When asked about playing with his rival Kim Do-young, he lowered himself, saying, "I have never thought of him as a rival since high school." "I sometimes search for him on YouTube (to see him hit). I always look for what I see and learn from him. There is a great synergy effect because of him. There is no pressure or urgency."