For the first time in his Major League Baseball (MLB) career, Kim Ha-seong, 27, of the San Diego Padres, hit two home runs in a single game.
Kim started at first base and went 2-for-3 with a double, a home run, a walk, three RBIs and two runs scored in the Padres’ home game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Petco Park in San Diego, California, on Friday. Most notably, he hit his 13th and 14th home runs of the season in the bottom of the first and fifth innings, respectively. It was the first time in his MLB career that Kim has hit more than two home runs in a game. He raised his season batting average to .270 (86-for-318) and his OPS (on-base percentage and slugging percentage) to .810.
In the bottom of the first inning, Kim led off with a walk and took a four-pitch 149 mph fastball from Pittsburgh starter Quinn Priester for a solo home run to left-center field. The pitch reached 162 km/h and traveled 118 meters.
In the fifth inning, Kim’s bat came alive again. Trailing 1-8 and with runners on first and second in the bottom of the fifth inning, Kim took a 135 km/h slider from Priester over the left field fence. It hit 155 km/h and traveled 111 meters. Pittsburgh outfielder Brian Reynolds chased down the pitch, but the ball went into the outfield bleachers instead of his glove.
Kim, a former member of the KBO’s Kiwoom Heroes, signed with San Diego in 2021 through the waiver process. He hit just eight home runs in his first year, but surpassed that number with 11 last year. He then hit his 12th home run of the season against the Detroit Tigers on May 23, surpassing last year’s total at just over halfway through the season. He followed that up with two more home runs two days later, continuing his rapid home run pace this season.
In addition to his home runs, his overall numbers have been on fire as well, with a .375 batting average, .500 slugging percentage, and .792 OPS in his last seven games. Both his batting average and OPS for the season are well above his career-best numbers from last year (.251 batting average and .708 OPS). 꽁머니사이트 The 20-homer, 20-steal season is looking increasingly likely. He already has 18 stolen bases, so if he can keep up his home run pace, he’s well within reach.