“It’s Kim Kwang-hyun’s defense.”
Kim Kwang-hyun (SSG Landers) pitched six innings of one run (one earned), four hits, two walks, and five strikeouts against the KT Wiz of the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on Wednesday. Although opposing starter Wes Benjamin had a tremendous outing, going eight innings without allowing a run and striking out one, leaving him with his seventh loss of the season, Kim Kwang-hyun also had a good outing.
Kwang-hyun kept the KT bats in check through the fifth inning. In the top of the sixth inning, with the bases loaded, he battled Kim Min-hyuk for 12 pitches before giving up a walk. He then gave up a single to Anthony Alford to put runners on first and second. Hwang Jae-gyun induced a grounder to shortstop to get Alford at first base. However, he gave up a single to Byung-ho Park with runners on second and third.
With two outs and runners on first and third, Bae came to the plate. He hit a changeup from Kim Kwang-hyun at 2B2S. The ball was hit to the pitcher’s right. Kim quickly ran to the plate, caught the ball, turned 180 degrees, and threw to first base. Bae Jae-dae tried to make a head-first slide for an infield hit, but Kim’s throw was quick. Kim Kwang-hyun’s catch prevented any additional runs from scoring.
SSG coach Kim Won-hyung commented on Kwang-hyun’s defense, saying, “I think it’s a defense that can be done because it’s Kwang-hyun,” and “(Kim) Kwang-hyun has good overall movement and motor skills. However, when I remembered him as a child, he didn’t know how to play short distances, so he wasn’t good at it, but through practice, he became good at playing short distances. He also has good sensory defense.”스포츠토토
“I think that’s why he has such a good defense. It’s not easy to do a running throw, but he did it really well,” he said, adding, “Kwang-hyun has a fast body and good agility.”
Commenting on Kwang-hyun’s overall performance, Kim Won-hyung said, “Last week, except for Roenis Elias, the rest of our starters couldn’t complete five innings. We needed to rebound this week.” “In that regard, Kwang-hyun gave up one run, but he gave us a good start to the week. We need our other pitchers to do that the rest of the way.”