After a hellish season, the angel in Kim Do-yeong's head is starting to win

Baseball is played as much with the mind as the body. In contests that last hours, players have lots of time to think about their game — or get into their own heads, and Kim Do-yeong, once the posterboy for the Kia Tigers and KBO, is no exception.

Kia Tigers' Kim Do-yeong celebrates after hitting a go-ahead two-run double with two outs and runners on first and third in the bottom of the fifth inning during a game between the Lotte Giants and Kia Tigers at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field on April 25. [YONHAP]

Baseball is a sport played as much with the mind as the body. In contests that last hours, players have plenty of time to think about their game — or get into their own heads.

The late Harvey Dorfman, a psychological consultant for MLB, explained in his book “The Mental Game of Baseball: A Guide to Peak Performance” (1989) that the pressure from thoughts such as “I have to get a hit” fuels fear, and fear leads to mistakes.

The conclusion has held for Kia Tigers star hitter Kim Do-yeong in recent months.

“An angel and a devil have been fighting inside my head,” Kim said. “Lately, the devil kept winning."

Two years ago, in his third professional season, Kim was not only the face of Kia but one of the icons of the KBO, bagging 38 home runs and 40 stolen bases. He won the regular season MVP award and led his team to the Korean Series pennant. Fans were captivated by a player with no weaknesses in hitting, defense or baserunning.

Kia Tigers cleanup hitter Kim Do-yeong waves a flag after scoring on a go-ahead three-run home run in the bottom of the first inning during a game between the KT Wiz and KIA Tigers at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field on May 3. [YONHAP]

But last season, he suffered a reversal of fortunes, playing only 30 games due to hamstring injuries, which brought his campaign to an early end. The 2024 champions finished a dismal eighth.

This season, Kim has appeared in all 50 games as of Wednesday. His batting average of .275 is slightly below expectations, but his 14 home runs and 42 RBIs rank first and tie him for second in the league, respectively.

Despite having a better season, he's still not satisfied.

“Though I’ve had some bad games, I denied that I wasn’t playing well,” Kim said. “Then I accepted it and tried to improve.”

“Honestly, I can feel the gap from last year. It feels like everything has been reset. I’m in the process of finding the good rhythm I had in 2024,” he added.

One positive sign is that the angel in his head has recently begun winning more often, according to Kim.

The Kia Tigers' Kim Do-yeong at Gocheok Sky Dome in Guro District, western Seoul, on May 27 [KIA TIGERS]

Tuesday’s game against the Kiwoom Heroes at Gocheok Sky Dome in Guro District, western Seoul, was a prime example.

Kim went 1-for-2 against ace pitcher An Woo-jin and hit a base-clearing double off Park Ji-sung with two outs and the bases loaded in the top of the seventh inning while Kia led 2-0. The power of positivity proved effective at key moments.

“Keeping my thoughts simple helped,” Kim said with a smile. “I stepped up to the plate, imagining the angel in my head.”

“When I became conscious of hitting home runs and got greedy for extra-base hits, the results weren’t good,” he explained. “Now I try to let go and trust that they’ll come naturally when the time is right.”

Kim has overcome the fear of injuries, but three challenges still remain.

The first is his speed around the bases. Kim has attempted only two steals this season, largely due to injury concerns. However, his explosive baserunning is nearly back to its old level.

“Others may not see it that way, but I’m running with everything I have,” he said.

Kia Tigers cleanup hitter Kim Do-yeong hits a double in the bottom of the first inning during a game between the Hanwha Eagles and Kia Tigers at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field on May 6. [YONHAP]

He is also expected to take on extra responsibility since Kia released its Australian Asian quota shortstop, Jarryd Dale, on Tuesday, turning to domestic players to fill in.

“I’ve been practicing at shortstop since last week,” Kim, who normally mans third base, said.

If he also takes on the defensively demanding shortstop position, it could provide a major boost for the team.

He also has to contend with another defensive duty: his mandatory military service, which he has not yet completed.

Despite what he considers to be an underwhelming season, Kim is a strong candidate for Korea’s roster at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

He has already proven his competitiveness in three international tournaments, recording a .275 batting average with four home runs and 15 RBIs.

“My goal this year is to finish the season well, all the way to the end,” Kim said. “If I get selected, great. If not, that’ll be disappointing, but I’ll continue doing my best in the role I’m given.”

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom. BY KIM HYO-KYOUNG [kim.jiye@joongang.co.kr]