“It will be a significant blow to the San Diego Depths”
The San Diego Padres’ Kim Ha-seong started at third base and batted seventh against the Washington Nationals in the 2023 Major League Baseball World Series at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., on June 26 (KST). However, he was unable to complete a single at-bat and had to leave Nats Park.
He had been hitting well for five consecutive games, starting on the 20th against the Kansas City Royals and ending on the 25th against the Washington Nationals. In the 25th game, he hit his fifth home run of the season and played third base to snipe a runner at home plate, filling the void left by Dixon Machado, who was sidelined with a microfracture in the back of his hand.
But the game on the 26th was a “nightmare” for San Diego and Kim. In the top of the second inning, with San Diego trailing 1-0, there were two runners on base. Washington starter Jake Irvin threw a two-pitch, 94-mph fastball toward Kim’s body. The pitch was well outside the zone, but Kim’s bat followed.
However, the pitch hit him in the left knee with tremendous speed. Kim immediately collapsed to the ground. He was in excruciating pain and was eventually helped off the field by trainers. His left foot, which had been hit by a pitch, appeared to be in such bad shape that he couldn’t even touch the ground, but a postgame examination proved to be a good thing.
“His x-rays were negative,” said manager Bob Melvin, “and while it’s questionable if he’ll be able to play tomorrow (Nov. 27), it doesn’t look like he’ll be placed on the disabled list (IL) at this time.”
“When I was first hit by the pitch, I thought the worst had happened, but fortunately, the results of the examination were better than I expected. Luckily, I was told that it wasn’t a major injury, but it was very painful at the time. We’ll just have to see how I feel tomorrow,” he said.
While the injury was not serious enough to warrant a trip to the disabled list, it is clear that Kim’s availability for the 27th is far from assured. Machado has also been ruled out of this week’s game against the New York Yankees, with The Athletic in the United States expressing concern. “Kim’s absence will be another significant blow to San Diego’s questionable depth,” The Athletic claimed.스포츠토토
If both Machado and Kim are out, the team doesn’t have anyone to fill the void. “What Kim’s absence would mean for San Diego,” The Athletic writes, “Losing the DRS (Defensive Runs Saved) leader for more than a few games would force the Padres to continue to start Lugned O’Dowd and keep Brandon Dixon, who can play corner infield.”
O’Dowd, who signed a minor league deal with the Padres prior to the season, has a .729 OPS in 27 games, but his .221 batting average lacks precision, and Brandon Dickson hasn’t had a career-high 2019 season, hitting .208 with a .644 OPS in nine games. It will be interesting to see how San Diego maneuvers through the challenges until Machado and Kim return.