Four consecutive losses in the first round, KIA's fall is unusual. Park Chan-ho's absence is more painful than Kim Do-young. Why?

Mar 30, 2025

Four consecutive losses in the first round, KIA's fall is unusual. Park Chan-ho's absence is more painful than Kim Do-young. Why?
In the game between NC and KIA at Gwangju KIA Champions Field on the 23rd, KIA Park Chan-ho is happy after hitting a double in the bottom of the seventh inning. Gwangju = Reporter's book@sportschosun.com/2025.03.23/



Park Chan-ho's absence is more painful than Kim Do-young's departure.

The fall of the KIA Tigers is unusual. I see a lot of cracks here and there. It is the beginning of the season that is overshadowed by the evaluation that it was said to be 'absolutely the first round'.

KIA lost again. It was a come-from-behind defeat again. KIA lost the game against Hanwha Eagles at Hanwha Life Ball Park in Daejeon on the 28th and 29th, overturning the game for two consecutive days. After losing consecutive games against Kiwoom Heroes during the week, he fell into a swamp for four consecutive losses in the early days of the opening. The ranking may not be that important because it is early, but it is tied for the lowest with two wins and five losses. The gap between the LG Twins and the opening seven consecutive wins has already widened to five games.




The main player's injury is so painful. I lost Kim Do-young in the opening game against the NC Dinos. Kim Do-young caught his left hamstring during the baserunning play. Fortunately, it was not a major damage that required a few months off, but a gap of about a month is inevitable.

Four consecutive losses in the first round, KIA's fall is unusual. Park Chan-ho's absence is more painful than Kim Do-young. Why?
The opening match between NC and KIA at Gwangju KIA Champions Field on the 22nd, KIA Kim Do-young hit a hit and went to first base in the bottom of the third inning, and is being replaced with leg pain. Gwangju = Reporter's wook@sportschosun.com/2025.03.22/
The departure of the MVP, who recorded 347, 38 home runs, 109 RBIs, 143 runs, and 40 steals last season, is a fatal blow. In addition, Kia's top hitter and starting shortstop Park Chan-ho were injured. Park Chan-ho injured his right knee while stealing in the first of a three-game series against Kiwoom during the week. Fortunately, Park Chan-ho also avoided serious injuries such as a ruptured cruciate ligament, but was immediately removed from the entry.

On the day of Park Chan-ho's absence, KIA turned the game upside down by allowing four runs in an inning that would have allowed no runs in the second inning amid shortstop Yoon Do-hyun's fatal error. That started and eventually lost four games in a row. Yoon had to be notified of his second leg.




In the process of losing consecutively, shortstop's error continued. Replacement Kim Kyu-sung also made a throwing error in the last game of Kiwoom's three consecutive games and Hanwha's first game 'Alkkagi Mistake' one after another. Of course, catcher Han Jun-su's judgment was not good against Kiwoom, but there are a number of errors that completely change the flow of the game anyway.

Four consecutive losses in the first round, KIA's fall is unusual. Park Chan-ho's absence is more painful than Kim Do-young. Why?
Sportschosun DB
As mentioned above, Kim Do-young's departure is so painful. However, to be honest, Kim Do-young's gap can be filled. Kim Do-young also did not comply with the third base defense. The bat is a player with a good sense of touch and can make an effort to fill it somehow. KIA's batting sense of Na Sung-bum and Choi Hyung-woo is not bad, and the early Hemedan Wisdom is gradually recovering.

The problem is Park Chan-ho. There is no resource to completely replace the defense of the main shortstop with 100% stability. This is a similar situation not only for KIA but also for other clubs. When the center defense collapses, the game is completely ruined.




Four consecutive losses in the first round, KIA's fall is unusual. Park Chan-ho's absence is more painful than Kim Do-young. Why?
Sportschosun DB
Attacks are also important here. The absence of the first hitter who can get on base and go out and play after waking up to baseball is a factor that has a tremendous impact on the overall flow of the game.

Park Chan-ho is expected to return after completing 10 days after expiring his entry. KIA has to hold out until then. If it collapses further here, it may be difficult to join the early top-tier fight. If the team is aiming to win, the current losing streak is bound to be a fatal blow.



This article was translated by Naver AI translator.