Kim “Awesome Kim” Ha-seong (27, San Diego Padres) has been receiving praise locally after hitting his first career grand slam to help his team win the game.
Kim started at second base and batted leadoff against the Miami Marlins at Petco Park in San Diego, California, U.S., on April 22 (KST) and went 2-for-4 with a home run, four RBIs and two runs scored. The team won 6-2, snapping a two-game losing streak.
Kim’s recent form hasn’t been great. Consider a doubleheader against the Arizona Diamondbacks on April 20. In the first at-bat of game one of the doubleheader, Kim started the game on a high note, hitting his fifth major league leadoff home run. However, he didn’t produce a single hit until the end of the second game of the doubleheader, finishing 1-for-8.
After returning on 21 days and one day’s rest, Kim returned to the field with a fearsome bat. His first grand slam in the big leagues was his 300th career hit. This puts him on pace to become the “first” Asian major league infielder to join the 20-homer, 20-double club.
Kim stole second in his first at-bat, advanced to third on a double steal, and came home on a sacrifice fly by Manny Machado to give his team the lead.
The highlight came in the second inning. Kim stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded and crushed a 96.6-mph (155.5-kilometer) three-pitch fastball from Miami starter Ryan Weathers. He knew it was a home run the moment he hit it. The pitch hit 95 mph (152.9 km/h) and traveled 359 feet (109.4 meters) before sailing just over the left field fence for Kim’s 300th big league hit, his first career grand slam. Kim’s home run sent Petco Park into a frenzy.
With this home run, Kim is now just three home runs shy of 20 home runs and 20 doubles. So far, only Shin-Soo Choo (SSG Rangers) and Shohei Oh (LA Angels) have joined the 20-20 club from Asia, making Kim the “first” infielder to reach 20-20.
His next two at-bats were inexplicably called for bases-loaded walks. But it’s no exaggeration to say that Kim was a one-man show that day.
Not surprisingly, praise followed. MLB.com wrote, “Kim’s value to San Diego in 2023 cannot be overstated. I shudder to think about a season without him.”
“He has a slash line of .280 with a .370 on-base percentage and a .449 slugging percentage this season. He has played outstanding defense at all three outfield spots (except first base). He is one of five National League (NL) Most Valuable Player (MVP) candidates and is a valuable player with the highest bWAR (wins above replacement) and fWAR (fangraphs) on the team.”
The praise continued. ”This year, Kim is a star in the making, having the best season ever for a San Diego second baseman,” the publication applauded.
With the win, the Padres improved to 60 wins (66 losses) on the season. They are in fourth place in the National League West and the seventh wild card spot. They cut the gap to 5.5 games over the third-place San Francisco Giants (65-60) in the wild-card race for a postseason berth, keeping their fall baseball hopes alive. 카지노사이트
Kim was at the center of it all. MLB.com wrote, “San Diego still has a long way to go. They don’t have much time. That’s why this week’s series against Miami is so important.” “When the team has needed a spark this year, it’s been Ha-Sung Kim who has provided it,” MLB.com said.
Head coach Bob Melvin agreed. ”Sometimes we feel like we’ve fallen apart,” he said. But when you see Kim play, that’s not the case. He’s been a huge factor for us. There’s an energy that comes with him,” he said of Kim’s presence.