“Ha Sung Kim is the MVP of the Padres (San Diego) this season. He played as hard as anyone.”
Despite his freak injury, local media highlighted his performance.
On September 9, Kim was left out of the starting lineup for the Padres’ home game against the New York Mets at Petco Park in San Diego, California, USA.
This was due to an injury he sustained during the game the previous day (Aug. 8). Kim suffered a toe injury the previous day against the Mets when he kicked a cooler near the dugout behind first base. He was trying to advance to third base after a double in the bottom of the seventh inning when he screamed down the third base line. He took the base in a “swimming stance” to avoid being tagged by the third baseman, but was ruled out.토토사이트
Kim walks to the dugout after his base hit against the Mets on Aug. 8. USA Today Sports
Afterward, Kim returned to the dugout and kicked a nearby bucket of water in frustration. The problem was that the bucket, which he thought was empty, still had water in it. Feeling pain, Kim was subbed out of the game, and an X-ray at the hospital showed that he hadn’t broken anything. But he was ruled out of the next day’s game. “We’ll see how it goes day by day,” said San Diego head coach Bob Melvin.
In an interview, Kim said, “I tried to be aggressive at the plate, but it didn’t work out the way I wanted. I think the third baseman pushed me a little bit with his glove, and I was angry.” “I take full responsibility for the play I made and the mistakes I made. It won’t happen again.”
Local media also lamented Kim’s injury. MLB.com’s AJ Casabell, who covers San Diego, wrote, “Kim’s decision to run cost the game. The injury could have cost San Diego even more. Kim is one of the most valuable players in San Diego,” and lamented his injury.
Ha-Sung Kim is replaced after being hit by a foul ball against the Washington Nationals on May 26. Getty Images
“Everyone makes mistakes and regrets them,” Casabell wrote on social media, “but Ha Sung Kim has been the Padres MVP this year. He played as hard as anyone this season. He (accidentally) got injured, but he vowed to never do it again,” and encouraged Kim.
Without Kim, San Diego started Matthew Batten at second base against the Mets on Sept. 9. The Padres won 3-1 in the bottom of the second inning, avenging the previous day’s loss. Starter Blake Snell struck out 11 in six innings to preserve the win.