San Diego Padres Kim Ha-seong (left)
San Diego Padres‘ starting infielder Kim Ha-seong (28) overcame pain in the back of his hand and succeeded in getting on base for the third time in a game in 28 days.
Ha-seong Kim started as the 9th hitter and shortstop in the Major League Baseball (MLB) home game against the Colorado Rockies held at Petco Park in San Diego, California on the 14th (Korean time) and recorded no hits and three walks in one at-bat.
This is the first time that Ha-seong Kim has been on base more than three times in one game since the Milwaukee Brewers game on the 16th of last month.
The season batting average fell slightly from 0.208 to 0.207, but the on-base percentage jumped from 0.316 to 0.326.
Ha-seong Kim served as the leadoff hitter in the bottom of the third inning when the score was 1-1 and was out with a fly ball to second base against Colorado starting pitcher Dakota Hudson.
He touched a low breaking ball on the outside and hit a big hit.
However, starting with his second at-bat, he drew three walks.
The first walk came with 2 outs in the bottom of the 5th inning when the team was down 1-5.
After a full-count match, Ha-seong Kim tolerated Hudson’s low curveball on the 6th pitch.
Even in the bottom of the 7th inning when the team was trailing 4-5, they played ‘eyeball baseball’.
Ha-Seong Kim chose a walk against the opposing team’s reliever Jake Bird, whose ball control was shaky.
This time, after a full count game, he held on to the outside slider on the 6th pitch.
Ha-Seong Kim walked again in the final attack of the bottom of the 9th inning, with the score still at 4-5, with a one-run lead.
He put pressure on left-handed bullpen Jaylen Biggs and sent a low fastball toward his body on a 3-ball, 1-strike count.
The game heated up with Kim Ha-seong getting on base. San Diego even had the opportunity to end the game with one out and the bases loaded as two subsequent batters walked.
However, Manny Machado hit a double play that led to 3rd base, 2nd base, and 1st base, and the game ended.
Kim Ha-seong’s efforts to play full-time despite pain in the back of his hand were in vain.
Ha-seong Kim was replaced on defense in the 5th inning after being hit on the back of his left hand by a 152 km/h sinking fastball thrown by opposing starter Walker Buehler in the 4th inning of the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on the 13th.
Fortunately, the impact of the injury was not significant, and he started the game that day. 토토사이트