Taking the mound due to the crisis of scoring rights → 1 ⅔ scoreless innings…Kiwoom Kim Sungmin shined at a critical moment
Taking the mound due to the crisis of scoring rights → 1 ⅔ scoreless innings…Kiwoom Kim Sungmin shined at a critical moment
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Kiwoom Heroes left-hander Kim Sung-min pitched a scoreless pitch in relief at an important moment.
Kim Sung-min took the mound in relief in Game 10 of the season against the LG Twins of the 2024 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on the 3rd, contributing to his team's 4-1 victory and six consecutive wins with no hits and no strikeouts in one ⅔ inning.
Kiwoom faced a big crisis in the top of the seventh inning with a 4-0 lead, with starting pitcher Enmanuel de Heysus blocking six scoreless innings. The second pitcher Joo Seung-woo received a double from leadoff hitter Moon Bo-kyung, and allowed a timely RBI to follow-up hitter Moon Sung-joo.
In the ensuing first base with no outs, Koo Bon-hyuk's on-base hit that attempted a surprise bunt caused another crisis of scoring rights, and had to watch second baseman Moon Sung-joo's third base advance when Park Hae-min hit a fly ball to center field. The mood could have turned to LG.
The card Kiwoom took out from the first and third bases with one out was left-hander Kim Sung-min. The decision was made in consideration of the fact that left-handed hitters Hong Chang-ki and Shin Min-jae took the batter's box one after another. As such, Kim Sung-min was doing his part this season.
Kim lived up to his team's expectations. He breathed a sigh while turning Hong Chang-ki, the first batter, into a straight hit to shortstop and ended the inning with Shin Min-jae, the next batter. It was a moment when the joys and sorrows of the two teams were clearly at odds.
Kim took the mound as relief pitcher in the top of the eighth inning, and had three outs to block LG's pursuit. Kim played his part by groundering all LG's central hitters including Kim Hyun-soo, Austin Dean, and Park Dong-won. Kim, who played multiple innings, handed over the mound to closer Cho Sang-woo ahead of the top of the ninth inning.
After the game, Kim Sung-min said, "I didn't think much about (playing multi-inning) and took the mound as relief. I wanted to prevent the successor from coming in because Seung-woo Co., Ltd. was doing well," adding, "I threw the ball confidently, thinking that I should pitch what I can according to the situation."
In particular, the power of determination for the main weapon this season stands out. "I changed my form during the season as my shoulder condition got worse in the 2020 season. At that time, I studied a lot about the grip of the ball coming out of my hands while watching videos of my pitching," Kim said. "I thought about determination since I thought about changing my form. As I am not a fastball pitcher, I have come to throw determination that allows me to win."
Kim Sung-min, who was drafted by SK (currently SSG) with the sixth overall pick in the second round in 2017, moved his team through a trade with left-hander Kim Taek-hyung in mid-May 2017. Since then, he has consistently received opportunities in the first team until 2021.
Kim, who underwent surgery on his left elbow after the 2021 season, joined the active duty service in May 2022 and was discharged from the military in November last year. Since then, he has completed preparations for the season by improving his physical condition, and has continued his smooth flow since April. Kim's performance in the season, including the game on the day, has been 2 wins, 1 loss and 10 holds with an ERA of 1.69 in 30 games and 32 innings.
By adding one more hold, Kim achieved double-digit holds for the first time in three years since 2021 (11 holds), the season right before joining the military. "I had no idea (of achieving 10 holds). Holds are not that important to me. I just want to block when I'm deployed. I don't have any goal for the season. My goal is to do my best in all situations and throw 100 percent." 토토사이트
Kim Sung-min just wants to do his best in every game. "If the result is good, I'm grateful, but if it's not good, I just have to prepare harder for what I'm lacking. I'll continue to do my best like that," he said.