'Return from Injury' Kim Ha-seong, Defensive Class Intact! Three Outstanding Defensive Plays, Walk on Bases-Loaded Hit → ATL on 3-Game Winning Streak

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Kim Ha-seong (31, Atlanta Braves), who returned after suffering an unexpected injury to his right middle finger tendon last winter, bolstered his team's victory by showcasing his unchanged 'defensive class' from his return game.

On the 13th (Korean time), Kim Ha-seong started as the eighth hitter and shortstop in the home game against the Chicago Cubs at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia, recording 3 at-bats with no hits and 1 walk. Although he failed to get a hit, he demonstrated sharp focus in defense that erased any signs of a slump, contributing to the team's 5-2 victory. Atlanta is now on a 3-game winning streak.

On this day, Kim Ha-seong made a series of outstanding defensive plays from shortstop, firmly securing Atlanta's back door. The most brilliant moment came in the bottom of the 4th inning with the score tied 1-1, one out, and bases loaded. Kim Ha-seong instinctively fielded a sharp line drive hit by Moises Ballesteros to the center field gap, then stepped on the base himself and threw to first base to complete a double play. This was a decisive defensive play that instantly turned a scoring crisis into an inning-ending out.

Stability continued afterward. In the bottom of the 5th inning with Atlanta trailing 1-2, two outs, and a runner on first, Kim calmly fielded a difficult short-hop grounder hit by Alex Bregman, preventing any additional scoring opportunities. In the bottom of the 8th inning, with one out and no runners on base, he fielded a shortstop grounder hit by Matt Shaw to record another out.

He also drew a walk. In the bottom of the 6th inning with Atlanta leading 5-2, during his third at-bat with two outs and a runner on first, Kim Ha-seong entered the batter's box. Unshaken by the opposing pitcher's pitches, he calmly selected pitches and walked. Kim let go of two balls outside the strike zone, did not react to a strike in the middle of the plate, and then endured two consecutive pitches inside the zone to successfully reach base.

Despite this being his first Major League game in about five months after undergoing surgery and rehabilitation following a slip-and-fall accident in December last year, his signature 'eye baseball'—the ability to outmaneuver opposing pitchers—remained sharp. This walk marked Kim's first walk of his return game, perfectly fulfilling his role as a connector in the lower batting order.

Beyond the walk, Kim Ha-seong also contributed to Atlanta's offense. In the bottom of the 3rd inning with the score tied 0-0, during his first at-bat, he hit a ground ball to the second baseman on the seventh pitch after a full-count battle against Cubs starter Colin Rea. Although it was not a hit, it became a valuable advancing hit that moved first baseman Dominic Smith to second base, which immediately led to Mike Yastrzemski's RBI single and gave Atlanta the lead. In the bottom of the 8th inning with two outs and runners on first and third, he unfortunately grounded out to the second baseman.

After signing a one-year FA (free agent) extension with Atlanta following the end of last season, Kim Ha-seong successfully made his debut after rehab games in the minor leagues (9 games, .286 batting average, 8 hits in 28 at-bats). In particular, he delivered three outstanding defensive plays in his first game back, signaling the start of his full-fledged activities as Atlanta's starting shortstop.

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*This content was translated by AI.