The national baseball competition Premier 12 will have a match between Korea and Japan, which is determined to be the champion of Asia. In fact, the Japanese national baseball team coach, who is dominating the world's strongest team beyond Asia, is wary of KIA Kim Do-young (22), the biggest star in Korean professional baseball.스포츠토토

Kim swung his bat against Cuba in the second Group B match of the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Premier 12 2024 at Tianmu Stadium in Taipei, Taiwan on Sunday. He led Korea to an eight-to-four victory by posting three hits and five RBIs from four times at bat, including a grand slam in the second inning and a one-run homer in the seventh inning.

Even before the upcoming event, the U.S. and Taiwanese media could be considered as notable players. Kim also showed his presence in defense by clearing out strong hits by Cuban hitters who once dominated amateur baseball as a third baseman.

For this reason, Kim is expected to display stellar performance in the doomed Korea-Japan match to be held at the Taipei Dome at 7 p.m. on Saturday. As Korea lost to Taiwan 3-6 in the first round, it can secure a berth to the semifinals only when it beats Japan.

Japan is also putting Kim as its top priority. Japanese media including Sisa News Agency said that keeping infielder Kim Do-young from hitting long balls and feet with 38 home runs, 40 steals, and 109 RBIs in 141 games in Korea will likely be the key to his winning streak. Japan beat Australia in the first Group B match, and is aiming for a winning streak.  

Japanese coach Hirokazu Ibata said, "I am improving my performance by a large margin," adding, "I was surprised." Last year, Kim had seven home runs, 47 RBIs and 25 steals in 84 games due to injuries and other reasons.

Kim showed poor performance in games against Japan at the Asian Baseball Championship last year. In the top of the 10th inning, he had no hit in four times at bat, including a double play by shortstop and runners on the first and second bases with no outs, and lost to Korea 3-4. While performing head-first sliding, he even suffered a fracture in his left thumb.

"I think he used that experience as a style," Ibata said. "Most of the players want to play in the next tournament by making use of their hard work experience, although they are good players from the beginning and no player hits every time in international competitions." "As it happened last year, I am wary of being a very scary hitter this year," he said.

Kim also had a timely double and a walk and a stolen base in the first game against Taiwan on Tuesday. Then, in the second game against Cuba, he hit a grand slam against Livan Moinello, who was ranked first in ERA (1.88) in the Pacific League while playing for Softbank of Japan.

After overcoming pain last year, Kim became the KBO League's best player this year and won the title. It remains to be seen whether Kim will break up his bad relationship with Japan and smile at international competitions.