“It’s getting better every year.”
Ha-seong Kim of the San Diego Padres was second baseman and sixth batter in an away match against the 2023 Major League Baseball Atlanta Braves held at True East Park in Atlanta, Georgia, USA on the 10th (Korean time). As a starter, he went 2 hits in 4 at-bats (1 home run), 3 RBIs, 1 run, and 1 walk, leading the team to 3 consecutive victories.
From the first at-bat, Kim Ha-seong was on fire.메이저사이트 Ha-seong Kim did not miss the 82-mile (approximately 132 km) slider formed in the middle of the strike zone by Atlanta starter Dylan Dodd in the first at-bat of a safe second-base scoring chance in the top of the second inning. Ha-seong Kim vigorously turned the bat, and got off to a good start by pulling out the first RBI double that split the left middle.
His performance continued. Kim Ha-seong got a walk in the second at-bat in the top of the 3rd inning, leading 4-0. Although he failed to score a follow-up hit, he completed the ‘multiple on-base’ game early on. And Kim Ha-sung’s sense of hitting really flared up in the third at-bat. He hit his second home run of the season.
In the beginning of the 5th inning, when Kim Ha-seong was leading 6-0, the 75.6 mile (approximately 121.7 km) sweeper (slub-like breaking ball) of pitcher Lucas Rutji, who changed from the chance of 1 out and 3 base, left the strike zone and fell very low, but Kim Ha-seong fell very low. The bat was sharp. Kim Ha-seong scooped up the route’s breaking ball through the ‘golf swing’ and exploded a two-run four that slightly crossed the left fence.
Ha-seong Kim did not produce additional hits in the next two at-bats, but with three RBIs, including the second home run of the season, widened the score to 8-0 and scored the final hit, leading the team to victory. San Diego defeated Atlanta 10-2 thanks to Kim Ha-sung’s great performance, and ran for three consecutive wins.
Ha-seong Kim was sluggish with 8 homers and a batting average of 0.202 and an OPS of 0.622 in 117 games in the first season of his debut. However, he played in 150 games last year and recorded 130 hits, 11 homers, 59 RBIs and a batting average of 0.251 OPS of 0.708, making remarkable progress compared to his first season. And his pace this season is even better. Kim Ha-seong is recording 9 hits, 2 home runs, 0.281 OPS and 0.937 in 9 games this year.
According to the “San Diego Union Tribune” of the United States, Ha-seong Kim made 5 balls over 100 miles per hour (about 161 km) and 9 balls over 361 feet (about 110 m) last year, but he made bad luck that did not lead to a hit. suffered But this time, the goddess of luck smiled at Kim Ha-seong. Ha-seong Kim’s home run this season was the slowest and shortest hit by a San Diego player.
Ha-sung Kim’s improvement every year is not surprising in the eyes of director Bob Melvin. As much as that, manager Melvin highly values Kim Ha-sung’s ability, and he thinks he has the potential to succeed in the major leagues. Manager Melvin gave a thumbs up, saying, “Ha-seong Kim has the ability to hit a home run.”
Director Melvin’s evaluation can only be interpreted as Ha-sung Kim being Ha-sung Kim. The head coach praised, “It seems that the work in the major leagues is getting better every year. Perhaps Ha-sung Kim’s power is next level. Ha-sung Kim has the ability to hit double-digit home runs in the major leagues.” did not
‘San Diego Union Tribune’ also said, “Key (Ha-seong Kim) was obviously using a 9-iron last night,” and “Ha-sung Kim hit 30 home runs in the last season in the KBO league before signing with San Diego. And 8 home runs in 2021, 2022 I am recording 11 homers this season and 2 this year,” pointing out Ha-seong Kim’s progress.
Currently, in San Diego’s infield, ‘long-term contracts’ are signed to Jake Cronenworth, following ‘signature hitters’ Manny Machado and Xander Bogarts. What remains is Kim Ha-seong. After the 2024 season, Kim Ha-seong gets FA (free agent) qualifications.
Ha-seong Kim had a batting average of 0.174 OPS 0.600 based on 9 games in the 2021 season, and a batting average of 0.208 OPS 0.693 in the 2022 season. Can Ha-seong Kim, who is showing a better pace than the previous two seasons, sign a pleasant long-term contract with San Diego based on his brilliant performance in 2023? With the current trend, it seems that it will never be impossible.