"I want to deal with Kim Do-young." The spirit of the No. 1 rookie in KBO 2025...Left-hander 150km Fireballer Challenge

"I want to deal with Kim Do-young." The spirit of the No. 1 rookie in KBO 2025...Left-hander 150km Fireballer Challenge

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Kia Tigers star Kim Do-young has become a highly respected senior player. He has become an absolute being that younger pitchers want to take the lead at least once. As Kim is currently the best hitter in the KBO League, pitchers have to lose to him. If a good result comes out, he can gain more confidence.안전놀이터

Left-hander Chung Hyeon-woo (18, Deoksu High School), who was named the Kiwoom Heroes as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 KBO Rookie Draft, threw a challenge at Kim Do-young. "I want to take on Kim Do-young," Chung said during the rookie camp at Goyang Baseball Stadium on the 18th.

As Chung is in his third year with Kim, he had never actually faced off in middle and high school. However, Chung is well aware of Kim's reputation in high school. "I think just dealing with Kim will help me learn," he said.

Chung already knows some characteristics from watching Kim Do-young hit the ball a lot. Therefore, he can naturally draw how to deal with the ball in his head. When asked if he should put a fastball on the outside with the first pitch, he said, "No. I will compete based on the analysis."

Here, we can see that Jung Hyun-woo is different from other rookies. Usually, rookies often say, "I will choose the first pitch as the ball I throw the best," or give answers such as, "I will start with strikes unconditionally."

However, Chung said he would strictly follow the power analysis data. He meant that he would trust objective data, not his sense, against the toughest hitter. This is why Chung is evaluated as managing the game calmly and cool-headedly without being swayed by the atmosphere under any circumstances.

Chung is already throwing fastballs in the late 140-km range and sliders and curves including his main weapon, a fork ball. His pitching form is soft and he has excellent control and command. He also has good game management capability. Many officials say he smells like Ryu Hyun-jin (Hanwha Eagles). General manager Ko Hyung-wook also says that he is a strong candidate to be named in the genealogy of ace left-hander who links Ryu Hyun-jin, Kim Kwang-hyun (SSG Landers) and Yang Hyun-jong (KIA Tigers).

Kiwoom will use only one foreign pitcher this year, Kenny Rosenberg. Native starting pitchers are expected to be more utilized than other teams. There is a good chance that Chung Hyeon-woo will be a beneficiary. If Chung Hyeon-woo rotates in the starting rotation, he will naturally have a chance to face Kim Do-young.

Chung Hyeon-woo said, "I really wanted to face Yang Eui-ji (Doosan Bears). As a catcher, it will be different to fight against him. Just trying to win will help a lot. I think it will be helpful just to face Kim Do-young."