Kim Do-yeong moved to within one home run of the KBO record for youngest player to hit 40 home runs by launching his 39th of the season. In the bottom of the first inning against Lotte on August 26, 2026, at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field, Kim attacked a 155 km/h fastball from Lotte starter Elvin Rodriguez with no outs and runners on first and second, hitting a go-ahead three-run home run to right field.
The No. 39 home run became Kim Do-yeong's personal single-season record.
Kim Do-yeong's Records Against Lotte
According to official KBO news, KIA defeated Lotte 16–11 in their 14th meeting of the season. Kim drove in four runs, including his No. 39 three-run homer, and multiple media reports also credited him with two hits and three runs scored.
With this home run, Kim surpassed his previous single-season high of 38, set in 2024. The record confirmed in the current research package extends only through his 39th home run, so whether he has reached No. 40 cannot be determined from these materials alone.
Conditions for the Youngest 40-Home-Run Record
Multiple media outlets reported that Kim could surpass Lee Seung-yeop's KBO League record as the youngest player to hit 40 home runs if he adds one more by September 6, 2026. Yonhap News reported that the KBO said age-related records this year would be calculated using the registered dates of birth submitted by each club.
According to Yonhap's report, Kim would be 22 years, 11 months, and 4 days old if he reached 40 home runs by that date. However, reports that Lee Seung-yeop's registered date of birth at the time he joined the league was based on a lunar birthday have also raised controversy over the standard used to calculate the record.
| Category | Confirmed information |
|---|---|
| Kim Do-yeong's registered date of birth | October 2, 2003 |
| Current confirmed season home runs | 39 |
| Cutoff date for the youngest 40-home-run challenge | September 6, 2026 |
| Reported standard for calculating the record | Registered date of birth submitted by the club |
Who Is Kim Do-yeong?
The official KBO player page lists Kim Do-yeong as an infielder for the KIA Tigers. His date of birth is October 2, 2003, and his jersey number is 5. KIA's official roster also lists him as an infielder wearing No. 5 and batting and throwing right-handed.
The central points of this story are Kim's 39th home run, his new personal single-season record, and his pursuit of No. 40 by September 6. Reports indicate that determining the youngest-player record will require reviewing both the registered-date-of-birth standard applied by the KBO and Lee Seung-yeop's historical registration information.