What's wrong with the $13 million throw? Tampa Bay's Kim Ha-sung's half-baked throw to first base → Immediately replaced the next inning. The shoulder is in a strange condition
Jul 22, 2025
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In an easy double play chance, he threw an awkward throw to first base. There was no speed, and the direction was not correct. The double play was canceled, which led to a loss. Then he was immediately replaced in the next inning. It happened in the third inning, the beginning of the game. It may be a reprimand, but the purpose of checking the shoulder condition seems to be greater. Is the injury a recurrence.
Kim Ha-sung was replaced at the beginning of the game. It was shortly after he lost a point due to an awkward throw from the shortstop's defense process.
Kim Ha-sung is George M. in Tampa, Florida, USA on the 22nd (Korea time).He started at 6th shortstop in a home game against the Chicago White Sox at Steinbrenner Field. The batting order has been changed again. In the previous day's game, Kim Ha-sung came out as the second batter for the first time in a long time and started as the second baseman, recording no hits and two walks in three at-bats.
Kim Ha-sung, who came out as the leadoff hitter in the bottom of the second inning, walked against opposing right-hander Sean Burke. Recently, Kim Ha-sung has been walking well. He has four walks in the last four games, one per game. Kim Ha-sung, who met Burke in his first at-bat on the same day, easily got on base using his opponent's ball control difficulties. Burke threw three straight balls while trying to hit the outside course. The fourth pitch passed through the body's strike zone, but the fifth ball went high again.
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However, Tampa Bay failed to take advantage of the scoring opportunity provided by Kim Ha-sung. After Morell struck out, Danny Jensen drew a walk, creating a chance for first and second bases with one out. However, Tyler Walls and Chandler Simpson struck out and grounded out to first base, respectively, and the score fell through.
The scene in question came out in the next defensive inning. It was when the White Sox continued their offense with one out in the top of the third inning and Luis Robert Jr.'s two-run timely hit to the left.
Tampa Bay starter Shane Baz threw a first-pitch cutter off Colson Montgomery, who came out to bat, to draw a groundout to first base. Tampa Bay's first baseman advanced and caught the ball, and the second baseman threw to second base at the same time as he entered the first base cover. Shortstop Kim Ha-sung, who had already entered the second base cover, was standing on the base.
It was possible to induce a double play. The throw to second base was accurate. However, Kim Ha-sung's throw to first base, which received the ball while stepping on the base, was not good. Perhaps conscious of Robert Jr., who was sliding to second base, the ball thrown to the side throw did not fly in a straight line quickly, but slowly headed to first base, drawing a gentle parabola.
The direction was also a problem. He leaned to the left of the glove of Tampa Bay second baseman Walls, who was stepping on the first base. Walls eventually had no choice but to take his foot off the base and catch it. If Walls didn't catch it well, he would have gone to the dugout with a bad pitch.
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Shortly after such a play came out, Tampa Bay coach Kevin Cash immediately called Kim Ha-sung to the bench. After the attack in the bottom of the third inning ended with three outs, shortstop Kim Ha-sung was replaced by Jose Caballero at the beginning of the fourth inning. Caballero entered the second base defense, and the infield defense was reorganized by starting second baseman Walls moving his position to shortstop.
The reason why Kim Ha-sung, who played only one at-bat, was excluded at the beginning of the game is largely due to the throwing scene at first base in the top of the third inning. However, there may be room for interpretation as to whether the director Cash's decision is 'blindness' or 'for injury check'.
In conclusion, it can be seen that the two objectives coexist to some extent. However, the center is more focused on checking the shoulder condition. As already known, Kim Ha-sung is the highest-paid player in the team ($13 million). In Major League Baseball, ransom soon leads to a position in the team. It is rare in Major League Baseball to exclude Kim Ha-sung-class players in the meaning of rebuke because of one awkward throwing scene, not a complete error. It should be seen as a slight intention to instill awareness in other players.
In fact, there is a possibility that the meaning of the replacement to check Kim Ha-sung's right shoulder condition is greater than for this psychological reason. If you look at Kim Ha-sung's throwing scene repeatedly, you can clearly see something strange. I was waiting for the throw at second base in advance, and the first baseman's throw was quite accurate, but I couldn't make a double play.
White Sox batter Montgomery is not fast either. Montgomery, who debuted in the big leagues for the first time this year, has yet to steal any bases. Even in the minor leagues, they only stole a total of 15 bases for five years from 2021 to this year.
Nevertheless, the reason why he failed to play a double play was purely because Kim Ha-sung's throw to first base was bad. However, there were not many factors that could interfere with the throw. He already received the ball while preparing for the throw, and the runner running from the first base did not run a base that severely hindered the throw.
In addition, it is also confirmed that Kim Ha-sung cannot spray the ball to the end as if his shoulders were uncomfortable when he was throwing.
Putting these circumstances together, it seems that there is an discomfort in the right shoulder that underwent surgery last year. And the Tampa Bay bench also recognized this and made a quick replacement. It is a decision to check Kim Ha-sung's shoulder condition more closely. If Kim Ha-sung's shoulder hurts again, he may go back to rehabilitation. The worst happens.
Meanwhile, Tampa Bay lost 3-8 on the same day with only five hits. Immediately after the start of the second half, he lost two consecutive games again.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
