Lake Bi → Mistake after mistake, heaven and hell… Kim Ha Sung… US broadcasters praise “Good defense every day, not covering positions”
Kim Ha-seong’s (28-San Diego Padres) defensive mistakes are just that, mistakes. That’s how much his defense has improved in the major leagues.
Kim started at first base in the second game of the Padres’ three-game series against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan, USA, on Sunday (Nov. 23) and went 3-for-4 with a home run, one RBI, two walks and two runs scored in the team’s 14-3 victory.
In his third year in the majors, Kim switched his primary position from shortstop to second base. Xander Bogaerts was the designated hitter, with Kim at shortstop and Jake Cronenweth at second base. It was Kim’s first start at shortstop in six games since the 16th against the Philadelphia Phillies.
As expected from a shortstop, Kim made an immediate impact early in the game. In the bottom of the third inning, with the score 4-3, he made a glove catch of Javier Baez’s tricky hit and quickly threw to second base to cut down the lead runner.안전놀이터
The local American broadcasters commented, “Kim Ha-seong made a good defense and threw out the lead runner. This season, Kim has been playing good defense every night, whether he’s playing second base, shortstop, or third base.”
In the sixth inning, Kim was a bit awkward at shortstop and made a series of errors. With the score 10-3 to start the bottom of the sixth, he chased down a line drive from leadoff hitter Baez, but the ball hit his glove and sailed into the outfield. It was an infield hit. Kim was disappointed, but even if he had caught the ball, the runner at first base would have been safe.
Zack McKinstry followed with a foul fly to left field to put runners on first and second. The next batter, veteran Miguel Cabrera, hit a heavily bounced ball toward the shortstop, and Kim rushed forward to get his glove on the ball, but unfortunately, the ball went into the outfield instead of into his glove. Kim sighed and congratulated himself, and the scorekeeper noted the error.
Fortunately, no runs were scored. With two outs and the bases loaded, Kim calmly caught Matt Bieberling’s grounder and threw to second base to end the inning without a run.
The broadcasters also reacted to his mistakes with more puzzlement than criticism. It was an indication of Kim’s changed status.
Meanwhile, Kim showed off his leadoff stuff at the plate. With a walk in the first inning, a hit in the fourth, a walk in the fifth, a solo home run in the seventh, and a hit in the ninth, he recorded the most walks in a single game in the major leagues (five), surpassing his previous record of four. With his home run in the seventh, he also broke the record for most home runs in a season (12), surpassing his previous record of 11.
Kim improved his season batting average from 2-for-6 to 2-for-8, and the leadoff hitter led San Diego to a 14-3 victory over Detroit to clinch the weekend’s three-game series early.