San Diego Padres starting infielder Kim Ha-seong was hit by a fastball. Will he be able to produce another hit against the next opponent?
Ha-seong Kim started as second baseman and first batter in the 2023 Major League Baltimore Orioles home game held at Petco Park in San Diego, California, USA on the 15th (Korean time), and only had no hits in 4 at bats. He met the fastball pitcher and got hit.안전놀이터
In the first at-bat in the first inning, Baltimore starter Grayson Rodriguez’s 5th pitch 101 mph (about 162 km) fastball with a ground ball in front of the pitcher. was caught on a first baseman foul fly.
In the third at-bat in the 6th inning, he was struck out by Rodriguez’s 99.9 mph four-seam fastball, and in the bottom of the 9th, Baltimore closer Felix Batista’s 5th pitch fastball at 101.6 mph (approximately 163 km) gave the catcher a floating ball.
It’s not easy to do well every time, but there’s nothing good about being silent for a long time. Also, the team is on a three-game losing streak. The shoulders of Kim Ha-seong, who has to play the role of ‘attack spearhead’ as the number 1 hitter, are heavy.
Ha-seong Kim’s next opponent is also a pitcher with good restraint. San Diego will play the second of three home games against Baltimore on the 16th. The Baltimore starting pitcher Ha-seong Kim will face is right-hander Jack Flaherty.
Flaherty made his big league debut in 2017 with St. Louis. He was also a teammate on the team where SSG Landers ace Kim Gwang-hyun played for two years. He changed his uniform to Baltimore as a trade this year.
In St. Louis, he started 20 games and recorded 7 wins and 6 losses with an average ERA of 4.43.
Kim Ha-seong struggled with his 100 mph fastball. Flaherty this time is also a pitcher who can throw more than 93 mph and 95 mph. Flaherty became a losing pitcher with 3 runs in 5 innings against Houston on the 10th, the previous appearance, but his slider and knuckle curve were powerful with a fastball of 95 mph or more.
Flaherty threw four four-seam fastballs against Jordan Alvarez in the second inning against Houston, throwing them to 95.5 mph – 96.4 mph – 96.6 mph – 97.2 mph (about 156 km). He is a pitcher with a fast ball and a sharp outward breaking ball.
In order for Kim Ha-seong to hit and go on base, he must deal well with the slider and knuckle curve mixed with his 93-97 mph four-seam fastball.
Meanwhile, San Diego, which suffered a series of defeats, is seeking revenge for its defeat the previous day by starting right-hander Michael Waka.