Ha-seong Kim (27), infielder of the San Diego Padres, said that there was no big meaning to hitting three home runs in the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC).
Even after returning to his team, he did not hide his regret about the Korean baseball team’s elimination in the first round of the WBC finals.
Kim Ha-seong started as the 8th hitter and second baseman in the 2023 American Professional Baseball Major League (MLB) home demonstration game against the Milwaukee Brewers held at the Peoria Sports Complex in Arizona, USA on the 19th (Korean time). I finished the game.
He was interviewed by a relay broadcasting company during the airlift shift and answered questions related to the WBC.
In response to a reporter’s question, “I returned after finishing the WBC sooner than expected,” Kim Ha-seong said, “I participated in the tournament with great expectations,” and said, “It’s a pity that the results did not go as expected.”
Then, even when he said that he hit three home runs in the WBC, he said, “It doesn’t mean much because the team fell (early).”
Ha-seong Kim received great expectations from the 2023 WBC, but showed a somewhat disappointing appearance.
He was silent in the match against Australia and Korea-Japan, the watershed of advancing to the quarterfinals, with no hits.
The regret was bigger because he was the only big leaguer in the Korean baseball team.
Kim Ha-seong was like that too.
However, Kim Ha-seong did not think small of the meaning of participating in the WBC.
He said, “It is meaningful to run with the Taegeuk mark on my chest,” and pledged, “I will prepare well for the next WBC and climb to a higher place.”
Kim Ha-seong, who joined San Diego, is now concentrating on his role in his team.
He is preparing for the new season as the starting second baseman after giving up the shortstop position he played last season to transfer student Sander Bohartz.
When asked about breathing with Bohartz, Kim Ha-seong said, “The defense of our team’s infielders is very good, so there is no problem in getting along.”
He then expressed his confidence, saying, “I always play with confidence in defense,” and “My hitting will be better than last year.”
Regarding stepping on the postseason stage last season, he said, “It was a very valuable season,” and “That experience has been a great help to my growth. I will do my best this season as well.”
On the other hand, Ha-seong Kim posted a score of 1 run in 3 at-bats that day. His exhibition batting average dropped from 0.545 to 0.429.
In the first at-bat at the bottom of the 3rd inning, where he was trailing 0-5, he retired with a ball to the right field to right-hander Bryce Wilson, who was trailing 3-5.
In the bottom of the 6th inning, which turned the score 7-6, he hit a grounder on third base to pitcher Javier Guerra, but advanced to second base due to a defensive error. Afterwards, he homered on David Dahl’s right-handed hit.안전놀이터
Kim Ha-seong was replaced with a large defense during the karate shift and finished the game. The game was won by San Diego 11-6.
San Diego’s leading batter, Fernando Tatis Jr., went 2-for-3 with 1 RBI.