The Samsung Lions outfield has been a happy place lately.
Young blood Kim Hyun-jun and Kim Sung-yoon have been sticking around, while Koo Ja-uk, who has a hamstring injury, and Jose Pirela, who has a plantar strain, have been alternating as the designated hitter.
Why this rotation allows for rest. Because of outfield all-arounder Kim Sung-yoon, 24.
He plays left field when Pirela is out and right field when Guzauk is out. He can even cover the middle infield.
Before the game against Hanwha in Daejeon on the 22nd, Samsung manager Park Jin-man said, “Kim Sung-yoon’s outfield defense is helping the existing outfielders to make saves because of his physical strength.”
You are experiencing a full-time season in the middle of summer for the first time since your debut. It won’t be easy.
A player who runs hard. But at least he looks healthy on the outside. He’s always cheerful and energetic, livening up the dugout with his play.
“He’s very competitive and always tries to do his best. She’s always trying to get one more base. He is playing the role that Pirela played until last year for the whole team.”
In fact, Kim was all over the place against Hanwha on Feb. 22.
In the top of the third inning, Kim Ji-chan hit a grounder to first base that took the wind out of Hanwha starter Lee Tae-yang’s sails. In the aftermath was Kim’s dune ball.
1st inning, 1st base. Kim Sung-yoon tried a surprise bunt on the first pitch, forcing Lee Tae-yang to rush out.
He immediately hit a two-pitch forkball for a triple to the right-center field fence to bring in Kim. A single to take the lead.
“I remembered that Ji-chan had a lot of movement in his at-bat, so I thought this would be a good opportunity, so I went into the at-bat thinking that I should try to bunt, and when the first pitch didn’t go for a fair hit, I thought I should try to hit the ball that was forming toward the body, and I think it worked out well.”
Kim Sung-yoon with a triple in the third inning.
‘Little giant’ Kim Sung-yoon slides down the line.
In the sixth inning, with the score 1-0, Kim batted leadoff and hit an infield grounder, then used his quick feet to make a head-first slide to first base. After stealing second on Koo’s fly ball to right field, Kim took third on Kang Min-ho’s fly ball to center field, a smart play that took advantage of the outfielder’s positioning.
“When I saw the base coach’s signal, I thought I had to retouch, so I came back, and when I started again, I was in the same outfield position, so I thought it would be a little bit difficult to throw the ball that I caught while stepping back from that distance, so I made a play with the confidence that I could save it, and when I went to third base, I thought it was a little bit far, so I took a chance, and it worked out well.”
Kim Sung-yoon advances to second base on a fly ball to right field in the sixth inning.
A little giant who runs around with all his heart in every moment. He is also a human being. He must be tired.
“I get tired too, but I think it’s because of the adrenaline that comes out when I’m playing, so I play like this without realizing it, but after the game, I realize that I’m tired. The coaches have been very considerate lately, so I’ve been adjusting the amount of practice I do before the game, and I think I’m creating my own game preparation process.”메이저사이트
Kim is second on the team with a 4-for-2.7 batting average in the second half of the season, behind leading hitter Koo Ja-uk (.429 in the second half). He also upped his season batting average to 3-for-3. With this much contact and this many feet, it’s a trend that won’t be slowing down anytime soon.