Ex-KBO MVP Kim Do-yeong headlines Asian Games baseball roster

Kim Do-yeong of the Kia Tigers heads to first base after hitting a groundball against the Hanwha Eagles during the clubs' Korea Baseball Organization regular-season game at Daejeon Hanwha Life Ballpark in Daejeon, Wednesday. Yonhap

The 2024 Korean baseball league MVP Kim Do-yeong was selected to the national team for the upcoming Asian Games on Thursday.

Kim, who was voted the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) regular-season MVP in 2024 for the Kia Tigers, was one of 24 players picked by manager Ryu Ji-hyun.

The Asian Games will take place around Aichi Prefecture in Japan, with the prefecture's capital, Nagoya, serving as the main host. The competition will run from Sept. 19 to Oct. 4, with the baseball tournament set for Sept. 21-27.

Korea will try to win its fifth straight Asiad gold in baseball.

Korean male athletes who win Asian Games gold medals receive exemption from the mandatory military service. After years of dealing with criticism that it was picking undeserving older players just to give them a chance to earn military service exemption, the KBO, which governs professional baseball, began selecting younger players at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.

For this year, the KBO went with 21 players under 25, plus three "wild card" players in the 25-29 age bracket.

Kim, 22, didn't make the 2023 Asian Games team and will now have a chance to earn his military service exemption.

He had a historic 2024 season, in which he became the youngest player to join the 30-30 club with 38 home runs and 40 steals. After an injury-plagued 2025 season, Kim has bounced back this year by tying for first with 19 home runs and ranking third with 52 RBIs through Wednesday's action.

The KBO regular season will continue during the Asian Games, meaning losing key players during the stretch drive could affect teams' postseason pursuit. The KBO imposed a limit of three players from each of the league's 10 clubs.

Kim is one of three Tigers players. The Doosan Bears, the Samsung Lions, the SSG Landers, the KT Wiz and the Lotte Giants are the other clubs with the maximum three players.

The LG Twins and the Hanwha Eagles will send two players each. The NC Dinos and the Kiwoom Heroes will each have one representative.

Manager Ryu will take 11 pitchers, two catchers, seven infielders and four outfielders.

Among the returnees from the 2023 Asian Games are: Eagles infielder Roh Si-hwan, Dinos shortstop Kim Ju-won, and Giants outfielder Yoon Dong-hee.

There are also a few players who helped take Korea to the quarterfinals of the World Baseball Classic in March this year — Kim Do-yeong, Twins infielder Moon Bo-gyeong, Landers reliever Jo Byeong-hyeon and Bears starter Gwak Been.

Unlike three years ago, no amateur was selected this time.