"My son doesn't care even if I get four hits." Dad Hilary's "May batting average 0.358" dramatic turnaround, even the weary KT smiles

*This content was translated by AI.

Sam Hilary (32, KT Wiz), who once worried about being substituted mid-game, has bolstered the team's lead race with explosive hitting form.

On the 22nd, Hilary started at the cleanup spot and left fielder in the home game against NC Dinos at Suwon KT Wiz Park in the 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League regular season, going 3-for-5 with one run scored and two strikeouts, leading KT to a 7-4 victory.

The formula of Hilary reaching base leading to runs continued today as well. Hilary, batting leadoff in the bottom of the second inning, opened the scoring with a massive double down the gap between left and center field. He crossed home plate using his speed when Kim Min-hyuk hit a two-run single to center field. Hilary reached base again with an infield hit in the bottom of the third inning but sat out the next at-bat with a strikeout in the bottom of the fifth. However, with the score tied 4-4 in the bottom of the seventh, he once again led off, reached base with a single to left field, and laid the foundation for a big inning.

As a result, Hilary's season stats stand at a .279 batting average (179 at-bats, 50 hits), 12 home runs, 38 RBIs, 37 runs scored, and 4 stolen bases in 45 games, with an on-base percentage of .348, slugging percentage of .553, and an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of .901.

His May batting average of .358 marks a 180-degree turnaround from April, when his average was .224 and concerns about substitution arose. After the game, Hilary said, "There's no particular secret. But the more I get to know the pitchers, the more comfortable I feel." He added, "I'm constantly focusing on my swing path. In the past, my swing path was too flat, and my hands tended to drop too low. As a result, I often hit the ball like a dot, making the contact point too narrow."

He continued, "I'm trying to make the bat enter the strike zone with a path closer to vertical when it does. Think of it as hitting with the face of the bat. That way, I can cover more pitches."

Hilary has long been known for his power-hitting ability since his Major League days. Charlie Blackmon, a veteran teammate during his time with the Colorado Rockies, praised him in a 2022 interview with the Denver Post: "Hilary is the most attractive player with both power and speed. He has the best power tool on our team."

Hilary was well aware of the team's expectations for him to demonstrate the power-hitting ability of a foreign player. He said, "I developed a bit slowly, but when I entered college, I realized I had power. I learned then that I don't necessarily need to swing hard to hit the ball far. I try to focus on making solid contact rather than just swinging with force."

He also added with a slight awkwardness, "Even though I'm 32 now, I still sometimes try to swing too hard. It's because of the fighting spirit inside me." He smiled and said, "I'm not satisfied with the high number of strikeouts yet. It's a relief that I'm getting hits, but I still strike out too much. Still, I'm getting better and better as I step into the batter's box."

During today's interview, his son Jackson (3) and his pregnant wife watched from the side. Jackson is also a favorite among the many players on the KT team. Hilary said, "My teammates always find Jackson cute and adorable, and I'm grateful and amused by that. My second child is expected to be born at the end of August, and I truly feel that everyone is taking good care of us."

He continued, "The same goes outside the stadium. Many people inside and outside the team greet my wife warmly and take good care of her. I feel that they are willing to help if needed and dote on the children, so I'm truly enjoying life."

True to his reputation as a devoted family man who prioritized his wife's adaptation when he joined the team, Hilary returned home not as player Hilary, but as husband and father Hilary after the game. He said, "Actually, my son doesn't care whether I get four hits or a home run, or whether I go 0-for-5 with five strikeouts. To him, I'm just the person who comes home to play with him."

He also emphasized, "Even today (the 22nd), after the interview, we plan to hit balls together at the indoor practice facility. My son loves baseball, and it feels good to perform well in front of him. I find it joyful and blessed to be able to spend these moments together."

Recently, KT has slipped from first place as its pitching staff has grown weary and the lineup has been out of sync. Nevertheless, the team's ability to maintain a fierce lead race is not unrelated to Hilary's resurgence.

Hilary said, "In baseball, there are good times and bad times. I'm not worried about ups and downs like this. I think we already showed what our team is like when we're playing well in the early part of the season. Today's game was another example of that." He praised his teammates.

He continued, "When I joined the team, I believe everyone had certain expectations of me. I want to be a player who meets those expectations. I want to help the team win in both offense and defense."

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*This content was translated by AI.