San Diego Padres manager Bob Melvin called Kim Ha-seong one of the best defensive players in the majors.
메이저사이트 He spoke to the local media after the Padres defeated the Los Angeles Angels at Petco Park on May 5.
San Diego won 8-5 behind a strong start from Joe Musgrove and offense from Zander Bogaerts, Jake Cronenworth, and Manny Machado.
Musgrove picked up his seventh win of the season (2-0) with a dazzling seven innings of three-hit, 11-strikeout ball, while Cronenwirth and Bogart stretched the lead to 5-1 with back-to-back home runs in the sixth inning. Machado went 3-for-3 with a home run, one RBI and two runs scored.
We can’t leave out another honorable mention. Kim Ha-seong.
“I think he’s the best defender in the majors, and a lot of his numbers say that,” Melvin said after the game. It was a huge play to end the game. Not many players can play that kind of defense,” he said, giving him a thumbs-up.
With two outs in the top of the ninth inning and an 8-5 lead, Kim sprinted forward at full speed to catch Taylor Ward’s grounder after it bounced off the mound and fell in front of second base, then threw to first base to end the game with the tying run at the plate. Melvin’s big play came in the ninth inning.
Earlier in the inning, Kim showed his agility and quickness to handle a difficult hit in the top of the fourth inning. With two outs, first baseman Mike Moustakas hit a grounder to left off the mitt of first baseman Jake Cronenwirth. It appeared to be an infield hit because it was in the opposite direction of Kim, who was moving toward first base on a 1-2 pitch.
However, Kim blocked the ball with his right hand, dropped it, and then quickly picked it up and threw it accurately to first base, leaving Mustachus with plenty of room. Melvin and the rest of the San Diego team oohed and aahed over the play, and Cronenweth and pitcher Joe Musgrove came into the dugout together to congratulate the youngster.
MLB.com wrote, “The Padres did not produce an All-Star infielder in 2023. That’s odd, and they’ll tell you that Kim is All-Star worthy,’ and ‘As we’ll see later, he is.