Korean baseball fans weren’t the only ones surprised by the news of Kim’s (28, San Diego Padres) injury. Local media in the U.S. were also very interested in how Kim’s absence would affect San Diego.
The American media outlet The Athletic breathed a sigh of relief on June 26 (KST), saying, “Kim Ha-seong, who left the game after taking a foul ball to the knee, has been tested and found to be negative.”
Earlier, in the second inning of the 2023 Major League Baseball away game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., Kim was hit in the left knee by a pitch he hit. His scream of “Aah!” was heard over the broadcast, and he was soon helped off the field by trainers. According to San Diego manager Bob Melvin after the game, the diagnosis was a bruise, not serious enough to warrant a trip to the disabled list. However, it’s unclear if he’ll be able to play against the New York Yankees on April 27.
It’s interesting to see the reaction to Kim’s injury in the United States. Even though it turned out to be a simple bruise, there was a lot of consternation. “What does Kim’s absence mean for San Diego, we immediately analyzed,” The Athletic wrote, and began listing the names of infielders, saying, “San Diego already had questionable depth. (Kim’s absence) would have been a significant blow to San Diego.”
Kim Ha-seong, center, is helped off the field by two trainers after being struck in the knee by his own foul ball during the second inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals in Washington, D.C., on Saturday. /AFPBBNews=News1
Kim Ha-seong, center, is helped off the field by two trainers after being hit in the knee by his own foul ball during the second inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday. /AFPBBNews=News1
After Machado’s injury, Ha Sung Kim moved to third base, a spot filled by Lugned O’Dowd, who signed a minor league deal out of spring training. Matt Carpenter, who spent most of the season as the designated hitter, has also seen increased playing time at first base, leaving an already thin defense. The loss of Kim would be devastating for San Diego’s infield.
As The Athletic notes, “If Kim, who leads the majors in DRS (Defensive Runs Saved), is out for more than a few games, O’Dowd will start and infield utility Brandon Dixon will continue to play. The only other infielders on the 40-man roster are Matthew Batten, who has a .730 OPS at Triple-A, and Eugene Rosario, who should return from the 60-day disabled list soon메이저사이트,” explains the dismal San Diego infield depth.
The mood is similar to the one that followed the news of Machado’s injury, a key offensive and defensive player. Back then, though, the conclusion was relatively straightforward: “Ha Sung Kim is going to third base.” He was one of the top three Gold Glove finalists at shortstop last year, so it wasn’t like there would be much of a void, at least defensively. However, the team has been scrambling to find a replacement, even calling up a Triple-A infielder.
As MLB.com notes, “Kim plays excellent defense anywhere in the infield. He’s done a great job at third base without Machado,” and “Melvin said he wouldn’t consider a roster move unless Kim goes on the disabled list. San Diego avoided disaster.”