\2 RBI Final Hit\ Kim Ha-seong
"2 RBI Final Hit" Kim Ha-seong "Focus on Contact After Swinging Bad Ball"<\/h2>
San Diego Padres fans, who chanted “Ha Sung Kim,” immediately cheered.
Ha-seong Kim (27, San Diego) responded with a final blow to the fans who chanted his name.
Kim Ha-seong started as the first batter and third baseman in the 2023 American Professional Baseball Major League home game against the Arizona Diamondbacks held at Petco Park in San Diego, California, on the 19th (Korean time), and scored 1 hit and 2 RBIs in 4 at-bats.
Ha-seong Kim appeared in the highlight of the game.
In the bottom of the 7th inning, San Diego got its first hit, and in the bottom of the 8th, when the score was 0-0, Gary Sanchez, the lead hitter, got on base with a hit ball and took a chance.
Pinch hitter Ben Gammel attempted a sacrifice bunt toward the first baseman, and Arizona first baseman Christian Walker fumbled the ball, saving both runners and batters.
San Diego continued its chances of 1st out, 2nd and 3rd base with Trent Grisham"s sacrifice bunt.
When Ha-seong Kim appeared at bat, San Diego fans chanted “Ha-seong Kim.”
Kim Ha-seong was driven to 2 strikes by throwing his bat at the manned ball in the 2nd pitch, but hit the 139 km/h slider on the 3rd pitch of Arizona right-handed bullpen Miguel Castro and hit a 2-RBI timely hit that rolled in front of the center fielder.
The ball pierced the Arizona infield, which was defending forward.
Fans once again chanted "Ha Sung Kim" out loud.
After the game, Kim Ha-seong said in an interview with MLB.com, "I swung at a really bad ball," and said, "I tried to make up my mind and focus on contact."
The next hitter, Fernando Tatis Jr., crossed the center fence and drew a two-run arch of the season, No. 20, and Kim Ha-seong stepped on home.
Tatis Jr. said, “Ha-seong Kim is really great,” and “Ha-seong Kim is currently one of the best hitters in the league.”
Arizona rookie pitcher Brandon Pott (7 innings, 1 hit, no runs) did not get a single hit until the 6th inning, but San Diego concentrated its firepower in the 8th inning and won 4-0.
Kim Ha-seong, who went to base in the first inning due to a shortstop error, left fielder in the 4th inning, and shortstop in the 6th inning, made a timely hit with two RBIs in the last at-bat in the 8th inning.
Kim Ha-seong maintained a batting average of 0.281 for the season.
His RBI increased to 44.
Kim Ha-seong also played a neat defense by catching Gerardo Ferdomo’s bunt ball from the first base undefeated in the top of the 7th inning and catching the leading runner heading to second base.