Pitcher Ahn Woo-jin reflects on hitting batter Kim Do-young: 'Mistake pitching too inside'

Kiwoom Heroes pitcher Ahn Woo-jin recalled the frightening moment he hit KIA Tigers batter Kim Do-young with a 156 km/h fastball during their recent game at Gocheok Sky Dome.

Ahn, who started the game on August 22 in the '2026 Shinhan Bank SOL Bank KBO League,' delivered an impressive performance, pitching seven scoreless innings with only one hit, one walk, and six strikeouts over 95 pitches. However, the game was marked by the dangerous pitch that struck Kim Do-young.

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When he's in a groove, he's a batter with no room for error. I made a mistake by pitching too deep inside.

Reflecting on the incident, Ahn expressed his relief that Kim Do-young was not more seriously injured. "When he's in a groove, he's a batter with no room for error," Ahn said, referring to Kim Do-young's hitting prowess. "I made a mistake by pitching too deep inside."

The pitcher acknowledged the inherent risks of throwing inside, especially against a strong hitter. "I was trying to throw inside, but it ended up being a mistake," he explained, emphasizing that his intention was to challenge the batter but the execution led to an unintended hit. The incident served as a stark reminder of the dangers involved in professional baseball.

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I was trying to throw inside, but it ended up being a mistake.