There are many ways for each player to create long hits. There are players like Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge who score in one shot with a home run, or there are middle-range hitters who often hit doubles.
On the other hand, there are players who get on base with a single hit or walk and then steal second base with their feet. Although not officially recorded as a long hit, it has the same effect as a long hit in that the player goes to second or third base anyway. There is a chance of failure, but the effect that can be obtained by harassing the opposing pitcher at first base cannot be ignored. Ha-seong Kim (28‧ San Diego) showed such advantages without regret on the 10th (Korean time).스포츠토토
Kim Ha-seong started as second baseman in an away game against Seattle held at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, Washington on the 10th (Korean time), went 3 at-bats, 1 hit, 1 walk, 1 strikeout, 1 run, and added 3 stolen bases. I was struggling. Although the team lost 1-6 and suffered a losing streak, it was clear that Ha-seong Kim still showed off good offensive production and proved his qualifications as the team’s leadoff.
It was Kim Ha-seong who broke the record of two or more consecutive games that had lasted for 15 games due to a disappointing strikeout decision the previous day (9th). It was a major league record this season, and with just one more game, he could have broken the Asian record (15 games) held by Ichiro Suzuki, so it was regrettable. However, Ha-seong Kim went to the game without showing any expression, and as if the previous day’s decision was a resentment, he strode across the ground without hesitation and energized the team’s attack.
From the first episode, the soul of the Seattle Battery was taken out. He chose a walk from the start against Seattle starter Emerson Hancock, who debuted in the big leagues that day. 1B-1S picks three balls in a row. Ha-sung Kim, who found complete confidence and calm at bat, was revealed as it was recently.
The true value of Ha-sung Kim came out in the following situation. When the follow-up hitter, Tatis Jr., was at bat, he stole second base with his foot. It was his 25th stolen base of the season made from a perfect start. Then, in the situation of one out and second base, Soto went back to third base during Soto’s at-bat and recorded his 26th stolen base of the season.
In fact, with Soto at bat and scoring position, it was a better choice to be on second base if there was no certainty. The Seattle Battery was also caught off guard. However, Kim Ha-seong went all the way to third base without missing a gap as if he realized that the Seattle Battery didn’t care about him. Kim Ha-seong’s main power continued to shine afterwards. When Soto grounded, he chose a home dash without hesitation and swept home with a head-first slide. Pitcher Hancock just gave up on Kim Ha-seong.
In the second at-bat in the third inning, Kim Ha-seong attacked Hancock’s 4th pitch sinker and scored a heavy hit. It was the moment when he continued his 15-game hitting streak. Then he shook Seattle with his feet again. He stole second base again with one out and first base, with his foot, recording his 27th stolen base of the season. Although he failed to score due to a follow-up hit, the Seattle Battery continued to play annoyingly.
Ha-seong Kim could not get on base any more that day, but he played an active role, recording 3 stolen bases on 2 bases anyway. Ha-seong Kim, who had already broken the record for the most stolen bases in a season by a Korean player, is now approaching the record set by Kazuo Matsui (32 stolen bases) in 2007, an Asian infielder’s record. Considering the number of games left and Kim Ha-sung’s on-base and base-run ability, this record is also likely to be broken.
He also set several club records. First of all, the 15-game hitting streak was a height that San Diego players hadn’t stepped on since Matt Kemp in 2015. Ha-seong Kim did it. It is also a San Diego club record this season.
On the other hand, he was recorded as a San Diego player who simultaneously achieved ‘2 or more runs and 3 or more steals’ in one game. The most recent record was recorded by Fernando Tatis Jr. against Cincinnati on April 20, 2019, and Ha-seong Kim achieved this record again after 4 years. Although the difficulty of stealing bases was somewhat lower than at the time, it is not enough to feel the explosive energy of Kim Ha-seong.
However, despite the rising trend of Kim Ha-sung, the reason that the San Diego batting line does not catch fire is because of Tatis Jr.’s serious sluggishness. Tatis Jr., who is behind Kim Ha-seong, has a batting average of 0.192 and an on-base percentage of 0.241 in the last 15 games. In the last 7 games, 2 hits in 28 at-bats (.071) and an on-base percentage of 0.133 are extremely poor. Even Tatis Jr. has to work hard to create a synergistic effect with Kim Ha-sung, but that is not the case. The club is also upset.
Tatis Jr. has had no luck lately. A well-hit ball was thrown far into the outfield, but it was caught in front of the fence every time or caught in the rain of outfielders and hit the ground. The batting average of Tatis Jr., who competed with Kim Ha-seong for first place in team batting average, fell to 0.256 amid sluggishness recently, contrasting with Kim Ha-seong (.288), who is on the rise. For San Diego, a frustrating period is passing by apart from Kim Ha-sung’s performance.