Na Sung-bum Praises Kim Do-yeong After Kia Tigers’ Postseason Rout
Veteran slugger Na Sung-bum hit two home runs in the Kia Tigers’ 13-1 postseason victory over the LG Twins, but said teammate Kim Do-yeong’s record-setting grand slam showed why the young star continues to impress.
Kia Tigers veteran Na Sung-bum praised teammate Kim Do-yeong after the pair powered a 13-1 victory over the LG Twins in Game 3 of their Korea Baseball Organization postseason series in Seoul.
Na hit two solo home runs at Jamsil Baseball Stadium on Tuesday night, helping the Tigers take control of the game and advance through the best-of-five matchup. Yet even his multi-homer performance was overshadowed by another landmark display from Kim, one of Korean baseball’s brightest young stars.
The 37-year-old Na opened the scoring with a leadoff home run in the second inning. Kim followed soon afterward with a grand slam measured at 145 meters, matching the record for the longest postseason home run in KBO history. At 23 years and 18 days old, Kim also became the youngest player to hit a postseason grand slam in the league.
By the time Na hit his second solo homer, Kia had built an 8-0 lead and the outcome was already moving firmly beyond LG’s reach. Kim was later selected as the series’ most valuable player.
Na said Kim appears to improve every season and added that he still finds lessons in watching his much younger teammate. Kim won the KBO regular-season MVP award in 2024 and is regarded as a strong contender for the honor again this year. Na said he was grateful to share a clubhouse with Kim and hoped the infielder would remain with the Tigers for a long time.
The captain also emphasized that Kia’s postseason success has not rested on one player. He highlighted the contributions of outfielder Park Jung-woo and backup catcher Han Jun-su, both of whom made an impact in the lopsided Game 3 win. Park collected two hits and drove in two runs from the leadoff spot, while Han homered and also finished with two RBIs.
Their production reinforced Na’s belief that the Tigers can win regardless of which players are in the lineup. That depth, combined with Kim’s record-setting power and Na’s veteran presence, gives Kia momentum as the club moves deeper into the postseason.
For Na, the night offered both an individual milestone and a close-up view of a teammate building his own place in KBO history. His response after the game reflected the balance inside the Tigers’ clubhouse: admiration for Kim’s exceptional talent, but also confidence that the team’s strength extends throughout the roster.