Kwang-Hyun Kim (33, St. Louis Cardinals) will make their first appearance in the US Pro Baseball Major League demonstration game on the morning of the 4th (Korean time).
Kim Kwang-hyun faces the New York Mets at 2:05 am on the 4th at Jupiter Rogerdin Stadium in Florida, USA. On the 27th of last month, Kim Gwang-hyun pre-heated his shoulders by digesting live pitching (standing a batter and throwing a ball like a real battle), and after taking a four-day break, he climbs to the mound for his first real battle.
Earlier, St.Louis featured Ace Jack Flaherty as the starting pitcher against the Washington Nationals on the 1st, and Adam Wainwright as the starting pitcher against the Miami Marlins on the 3rd. It is interpreted that St. Louis’s announcement of Kim Gwang-hyun against the Mets on the 4th, the 3rd demonstration game, means that it is regarded as the 3rd starter this year.
Kim Gwang-hyun debuted in the major leagues last year and made a big success with an average ERA of 1.62 with 3 wins and 1 save in 8 games (7 starting games). Kim Gwang-Hyun had a hard time maintaining his condition due to a new coronavirus infection (Corona 19) last year, and the opening of the league was postponed to July and kidney infarction at the beginning of the season.
In last year’s demonstration game, Kim Gwang-hyun left 5 games (2 selections), 9 innings, 1 win, 1 hold, 1 save, and an average ERA of 0. It is expected that Kim Kwang-hyun will digest about 2 innings in this match against the Mets.
The Mets that Kim Kwang-hyun is dealing with are perfect as a sparring partner. The Mets, who finished fourth in the National League’s eastern quarter last year (26-34), greatly boosted their power during the offseason by bringing in shortstop Francisco Lindor from the Cleveland Indians. In particular, Lindor debuted in 2015, and is a representative shortstop in the big league with a career batting average of 0.285, 138 homers, 411 RBIs, 99 steals and OPS (on base percentage + slugging percentage) of 0.833 in six seasons.
The Mets announced Jared Ikoff as a starting pitcher in the match on the 4th. Icorp came out in three games last year, leaving an average ERA of 4.50 per loss.
Reporter Jeong Se-young