X-Men was ranked first in the team's annual salary. Tampa Bay's starting players failed with one hit, and leadoff Kim Ha-sung failed. have one's own batting balance
Aug 12, 2025
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Tampa Bay Rays hitters burst like active volcanoes for the first time in a long time and pounded hard on the opponent's mound. Tampa Bay's lineup, which has been consistent since the beginning, combined for a total of 15 hits on the day. 'Most of the hitters joined the hit show with confidence at the plate.
Only one batter was out of this flow. Like an island floating alone in the wide sea, I bowed my head without being able to participate in my colleagues' fierce batting show. In the end, Tampa Bay failed to achieve a 'starting hit' because one batter could not escape from lethargy throughout the game.
In fact, this situation is not uncommon in professional baseball. It is often played in Korean professional baseball as well as Major League Baseball. Nevertheless, there is a reason why a batter who was helpless alone in Tampa Bay is drawing attention. This is because he is a first-year FA recruitment player who receives the highest annual salary ($13 million, about 18.1 billion won) in Tampa Bay this year.
The Tampa Bay club brought Lee with high expectations and a lot of salary, but it is not working at all. Little by little, words like 'Failed FA Adoption Case'FA Meal and Tu' are appearing. This is not only because of this day, but also because it is generally sluggish this season.
This player is Kim Ha-sung (30). The highest salary in the team keeps acting like 'Hidden X-Men'.
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It is the first time in 695 days that Kim Ha-sung started as a leadoff (first hitter) since the game against the Oakland Athletics (currently the Athletics) on September 17, 2023, when his former team was the San Diego Padres. Kim Ha-sung, who was far from the No. 1 hitter, returned to the No. 1 spot in almost two years because he played very well the day before.
Kim Ha-sung appeared as the seventh shortstop in an away game against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Arena in Seattle, Washington, the previous day, and made two hits (one home run), one walk, two RBIs, and one run in three at-bats.
Because of this, head coach Kevin Cash seemed to believe that Kim Ha-sung's batting sense was revived. This is the background of the important No. 1 position.
However, it was a grave misjudgment. Kim Ha-sung's performance against Seattle was not the result of recovering his batting sense. It was more of a temporary phenomenon. The result of the Athletics match on the 12th proved that the hitting sense was not completely on track.
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In the top of the second inning, the shortstop fly ball was caught with two outs and runners on the second and third bases, and in the fourth and sixth innings, the ball was caught helplessly because it could not cross the infield.
The most regrettable scene was his fifth at-bat in the top of the eighth inning with no outs and runners on the first and second bases. Kim Ha-sung gave up consecutive walks to the previous two batters and pulled a low sweeper on the fourth pitch in the ball count of 1B2S against Michael Kelly, whose control was shaking, but it was only a normal fly ball to left field.
Unlike previous batters, Kelly has been very aggressive against Kim Ha-sung. This means that Kim Ha-sung was branded as a good opponent to increase the outcount by the opposing pitcher. If you shorten the long expression, it will be about 'Hogu'.
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Kim Ha-sung's batting average for the season fell back to 0.200 (12 hits in 60 at-bats). Again, it is on the verge of a fall in the 10% range. This batting average is an accurate indicator of Kim Ha-sung's current level. This means that he is a below-average hitter and a hitter who does not adapt well to the major league level. Nevertheless, Tampa Bay should pay 18.1 billion won.
Reporter Lee Won-man wman@sportschosun.com
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
