How much will Kim Do-young (22, Kia Tigers) earn in 2025?"

I wonder if there was a player who paid so much attention to the outcome of the salary negotiations. The atmosphere of the stove league is usually led by big-time FA. Players who are expected to sign contracts worth more than 10 billion units usually lead the market atmosphere. In salary negotiations, each club sets an increase rate according to the club's criteria based on the performance of the target players, and since it is a one-year contract anyway, the amount itself is not that large. It is not often predicted whether "Lee will receive an annual salary this year" when each club announces the results of the annual salary negotiations for key players.

Lee Jung-hoo (27, San Francisco Giants), who went to the U.S. Major League last year, was a player who received attention every time he negotiated his salary. Lee Jung-hoo, a member of the Nexen Heroes (currently Kiwoom Heroes), drew attention by setting a new annual salary record every year since his professional debut in 2017.

Kim is likely to follow in Lee Jung-hoo's footsteps now. Kim had the best season in her life last year. She garnered a batting average of 0.347 (189 hits in 544 at-bats), 38 homers, 109 RBIs, 143 points, 40 steals, and 1.067 OPS in 141 games, as she won the MVP of the league. She became the first monthly 10 to 10 steals, the youngest to 30 homers to 30 steals, and the youngest to score 100 points in games. Kim opened her heyday by winning the Golden Glove in the third baseman category and other various award ceremonies.

By 2023, Kim has grown at a pace worthy of what the club is expecting. After graduating from Gwangju Dongseong High School, Kim joined Kia as the first team name in 2022, and recorded a batting average of 0.237 (53 hits in 224 at-bats), three homers, 13 steals, 19 RBIs, and 37 points in 103 games that year. It fell short of expectations that he could win the Rookie of the Year award with five-tool players. Kim had to settle for raising his annual salary of 20 million won from 30 million won in 2022 to 50 million won in 2023. In 2023, he failed to play full time due to injury. Still, when he was healthy, he left a better report card than in 2022. He had a batting average of 0.303 (103 hits in 340 at-bats), seven homers, 25 steals, 47 RBIs, and 72 runs in 84 games. As a result, he raised his salary to 100 million won in 2024. Entering a multi-billion-year salary in the professional league means that he has become one of the main players.메이저사이트

In 2024, Kim has become a leading player of the KBO beyond establishing himself as the team's main player. At the '2024 WBSC Premier 12' competition held in Taipei, Taiwan in November last year, Kim was the face of the Korean national team, which was commonly selected by the media around the world. The Major League website MLB.com named Kim Do-young as one of the 'eight players to pay attention to at the competition', and Taiwanese media were most wary of her as they focused on analyzing Korea, the first opponent of Group B's group matches. Although Korea suffered a bitter taste of being eliminated from the group league, Kim Do-young hit .412 with three home runs, 10 RBIs and an OPS of 1.503 in five games of the tournament, making a real impression on global baseball fans.

Kim will be in her fourth year as a pro in 2025. Lee's highest annual salary in her fourth year as a pro was 330 million won in 2020. However, Lee was already paid 230 million won in 2019, when she was in her third year. Kim's annual salary last year was 100 million won. In order to break Lee's record, the increase must be much higher.

It would be a new record even if it surpasses 400 million won, but as interest in Kim Do-young's salary negotiation heats up, public opinion is growing that he can surpass 500 million won. KIA fully acknowledges Kim Do-young's performance last year, but it is difficult to set an amount beyond that range due to the high performance standards of the club. As Kia is the unified championship team last year, it is expected to raise its players overall, but the club should manage it to ensure that it does not exceed the salary cap. It is also against fairness to give a huge increase only to certain players considering public opinion. The front desk who knocks on the calculator must have a complicated mind.

Kia is currently negotiating with Seo Geon-chang (36), an internal FA, and is planning to wrap up negotiations step by step with high-paid players in its team including Kim Do-young. Will both the club and Kim Do-young be able to set a satisfactory salary? Regardless of the outcome, it is expected that the team will set a new record.