“I focused on just handling the ball in front of me.”
Kiwoom Heroes infielder Kim Soo-hwan, 25, was named to the first-team roster ahead of the team’s 13th game of the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League against the Samsung Lions at Samsung Lions Park in Daegu on Friday. It was his fifth first-team call-up this season.
Kim Soo-hwan, who was batting just 1-for-38 in 38 games prior to this game, came up with the game-winning hit. With the bases loaded and two outs in the second inning, he smashed a 149-kilometer fastball from Samsung starter Taylor Widener for a two-run home run. It was his second home run of the season, his first since June 7 against the LG Twins in Jamsil.
The home run gave Kiwoom an early lead, as they scored six runs on eight hits in the second inning alone. Kiwoom went on to win 7-4 and snap a three-game losing streak.
After the game, Kiwoom head coach Hong Won-ki praised Kim Soo-hwan’s two-run shot in the offense.
“My first and second pitches were both sliders, so I thought it was the timing of my fastball. I think I was prepared for the fastball, which led to a good result,” Kim reflected on his home run.
Kim is a backup who splits time between the first and second teams. In the Futures League, he’s batting .271 with 29 doubles, eight home runs, 33 RBIs and 24 runs scored in 35 games, but he hasn’t done much of anything in the first team. He hasn’t had a chance.
When asked how it felt to start on the day he was called up to the first team, Kim said, “I went out with the idea of taking it easy no matter what the outcome was. At Futures, I practiced a lot of defense with Kim Ji-soo (defense coach). I focused on just handling the ball in front of me,” he said.메이저사이트
“It feels good to be on the first team during a losing streak and be able to contribute to the team’s victory. I will continue to do my best to help the team as much as possible.”