Kim Ha-seong has received a baptism of praise for his extraordinary performance and is on track to surpass the 20-20 mark with 20 home runs and 40 stolen bases.
On the previous day (22 July), Kim batted first and second in the lineup against the Miami Marlins at Petco Park in San Diego, California, USA, and went 2-for-4 with two doubles, a home run, and four RBIs.
After the game, Kim took to the dugout and said, “I feel so good. I’m glad that my home run was able to win the game,” he said. “I think it will be remembered as a good home run in my career. I will keep this momentum going and do well in tomorrow’s game.”
Kim’s celebration was characteristically exciting. His arm-waving and joyful celebration has become a favourite in Korea and the United States. However, he didn’t do it after his last home run. When asked about it by the local media, he said, “I felt good, but this time I played calmly without thinking about it.”
In conclusion, he said, “I think it’s good that I tried my best to win the match,” and vowed to continue to show good form with a steady routine.
The San Diego fans, who watched his interview on the field, showed their enthusiastic support for him, especially by chanting “Ha Sung Kim!” to reward his performance throughout the year.
Photo via USA Today/Yonhap News
Photo via SD Official SNS
The ‘crazy’ leadoff hitter who stole two bases and then stole third
Kim’s appearance alone was enough to send the San Diego home fans into a frenzy. Kim batted first in the top of the first inning and got off to a calm start, picking out a low, body-length ball from the Miami Weathermen.
Working a 2-ball-1 strike count, Kim drove a 96.5 mph (155.3 km/h) four-seam fastball right down the middle of the plate and into the right-field line.
Kim sprinted around the bases and reached second base, his 18th double of the season. During his base running, Kim took off his helmet to show his enthusiasm, reminiscent of the “Kim Ha-Sung figurines” that the team distributed to fans. He then stole second base on a wild pitch.
Fernando Tatis Jr. followed with a single to load the bases and Manny Machado stole third on a wild pitch from Weathers. Miami catcher Nick Forte made a well-timed throw to third that was not thrown out. It was Kim’s 28th stolen base of the season. With the opportunity to score on the play, Kim took it upon himself to cross home plate with ease on Machado’s sacrifice fly to left field to give San Diego the lead.카지노사이트
Photo via BaseballServant
Photo: BaseballServant
The pitch count was against him… but he was still strong, and this is what his grand slam looked like
In his second at-bat, Ha-Sung Kim hit a bases-loaded home run. He stepped to the plate with the bases loaded in the second inning after a Luis Camposano, Karett Cooper, and Trent Grisham walk to give San Diego a 1-0 lead. A tense first pitch. Kim watched as the ball formed high in the strike zone for Weathers. The pitch appeared to be high and not a strike on the MLB.com GameCentre graphic, but the umpire called it a strike. The next pitch, a low changeup, was also called a strike as Kim watched. The ball count was 0 balls and 2 strikes. He could have easily blown his chance for the winning run.
But Kim had a strong heart. He scooped up a 96.6-mph (155.4-kilometre) fastball from Weathers and smashed it over the left-field fence for a grand slam. It hit 95 mph (152.8 km/h), travelled 359 feet (109.4 metres) and had a 29-degree launch angle.
It was the first grand slam of his major league career and his 17th home run of the season, putting him just three shy of the 20-homer plateau. The multi-hit game also gave him 300 career hits in the major leagues. He is only the third Korean major leaguer in history to reach the milestone, joining Choo Shin-soo and Choi Ji-Man.
FOX Sports posted a video of Kim’s home run shortly afterwards and praised the “long-hitting No. 1 hitter, who is heating up San Diego.” MLB.com also noted that “Kim hit his first career grand slam.”
San Diego’s first legendary hitter with a home run, double, and stolen base
Kim also made San Diego franchise history. On the same day, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune, a local media outlet in San Diego, Kim became the first player to hit a home run, a double, and a stolen base in the same game. For this, the media called him a “legend”. “He became the first player in San Diego’s 55-year history to hit a home run, double, and steal a base in the same game,” it said. It’s a testament to the fact that Kim has a long bat, medium to long range, and quick feet.
Jeff Sanders, a reporter for the publication, also praised Kim on social media, saying, “He’s on his way to becoming a San Diego Legend.”
Photo via SD’s official social media
Photo via SD official social media
The San Diego team was equally pleased with Kim’s performance. “The S in Kim’s initials, HSK, stands for slam (grand slam),” the club said, and posted an image with the Korean phrase “Kim’s first grand slam of his MLB career.” On another social media post, San Diego called Kim “our Korean king.”
San Diego manager Bob Melvin said, “Every player has times when they sink, whether it’s their hitting or their mood. But that’s not the case with Ha-Sung Kim. He always makes a big play for our team,” Melvin said, adding, “I don’t doubt that he gets 20-20. He never ignores or avoids a single ball. There’s a lot of energy coming out of him.”
Kim Ha-sung goes beyond 20-20 to 20-40
On the 22nd, through the previous day’s game, Kim’s season stats were .280 (414-for-116) with 19 doubles, 17 home runs, 49 RBIs, 71 runs scored, 58 walks, 95 strikeouts, 28 stolen bases, a .370 on-base percentage, a .449 slugging percentage, and a .819 OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage).
He’s already in the 20-20 club in stolen bases and is just three home runs away from joining. The first Korean to hold the record was SSG Landers Choo Shin-soo. He did it three times: in 2009 with Cleveland (20 home runs and 21 stolen bases), in 2010 (22 home runs and 22 stolen bases), and in 2013 with Cincinnati (21 home runs and 20 stolen bases). If Kim goes 20-20, it will also be a first. He would become the first Asian infielder to reach 20-20.
San Diego has 36 games left in the season. That’s plenty of time for Kim to reach 20 home runs. Add to that his 28 doubles, and it’s only a matter of time before he becomes the first Korean to reach 30. Also, at his current pace, it’s arithmetically possible for him to reach 40 steals. It will be interesting to see if he can go beyond 20-20 to 20-40.
Awesome Kim breaks 6.0 in bWAR for the first time! Awesome Kim becomes the best hitter in baseball
Kim Ha-seong is now the best infielder in the major leagues.
According to Baseball-Reference’s bWAR, a statistical site specialising in Major League Baseball, Kim’s bWAR has risen from 5.8 to 6.0. That puts him in sole possession of fourth place, behind Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels (9.4), Mookie Betts of the Los Angeles Dodgers (6.5) and Ronald Yacunha Jr. of the Atlanta Braves (6.2). He is also just 0.5 behind fifth-place Marcus Semien of the Texas Rangers (5.5).
This is the first time this season that Kim has eclipsed 6.0 in bWAR. He posted 2.1 in his 2021 debut and 5.0 last season.
He’s also become more reliable with the bases loaded. In his rookie season, Kim batted .333 (6-for-6) with an OPS of 1.042, and in 2022, he batted .250 (12-for-3) with 11 RBI and an OPS of 1.817. So far this season, he’s batted .455 (11-for-5) with one home run, 11 RBI, and an OPS of 1.182 in clutch situations.
Before his rookie season, there were questions about Kim’s success. This season, however, he has proven himself to be a solid all-around player, and his run continues.
Photo via USA Today/Yonhap News
