The San Diego Padres and Kim Ha-soo almost had a major crisis with an ‘injury’ of their own.
Kim Ha-seong started at first base and second base against the Texas Rangers in the 2023 Major League Baseball (MLB) World Series at Petco Park in San Diego, California, on Aug. 31, going 1-for-1 with one hit, one walk, one stolen base and one run scored.
His moment of truth came in the bottom of the third inning. After leading off with an infield single, he advanced to third on a Juan Soto walk and a Match Manado single, and then tried to tag up on Xander Bogaerts’ sacrifice fly with one out.
To score the winning run, Kim tried to make a head-first sliding catch, and the ball slipped behind the catcher for a safe. The problem was that in the process, Kim collided with Texas catcher Sam Huff. Kim’s right hand slammed into Huff’s knee, impacting his right shoulder.
Kim was unable to get up for a while and complained of pain, and after being checked by a trainer, he headed to the dugout. Eventually, Matthew Batten replaced Kim at second base in the top of the fourth inning.
Luckily, Kim was given a clean bill of health after being examined at the hospital, and depending on the situation, he could be ready to go as soon as today’s game against the Colorado Rockies. 먹튀검증
Kim told local media after the game, “I wasn’t feeling well at the time, but I got better over time. The x-ray didn’t show any abnormalities in my bones, and I have to wait until the next day to see how I’m doing because I might not feel well when I wake up in the morning.” “If I feel better tomorrow, I’ll play right away. I want to be back as soon as possible.”
“He’s been as good as any leadoff hitter,” said San Diego manager Bob Melvin. “He’s doing everything, whether it’s getting on base or getting a big hit, and he’s playing great defense. If he was out for an extended period of time, the team would have struggled.”
The San Diego Union-Tribune, a local outlet that reported on Kim’s news, said, “Since July, he’s been playing the role the team needed him to play,” adding, “He’s become one of the most valuable second basemen in the majors.”