Kim Hun-gon of the Samsung Lions rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run off Kia Tigers starter James Naile during Game 1 of the Korean Series at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field in Gwangju, some 270 kilometers south of Seoul, on Oct. 21, 2024. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
GWANGJU, Oct. 23 (Korea Bizwire) — The Samsung Lions lost their veteran left-hander Baek Jung-hyun just before their first Korea Baseball Organization postseason game earlier this month, when the pitcher was taken down by friendly fire.
During a scrimmage on Oct. 9, Baek was struck in the right hand and the face by a line drive off the bat of teammate Kim Hun-gon. Baek sustained a broken right thumb and a bruised left eye, which ruled him out for the rest of the year.
The Lions defeated the LG Twins in the second round to advance to the Korean Series without Baek, who, despite his regular-season struggles, would have been a useful left-handed option for the club.
Now, Kim, Baek’s teammate since 2011, is trying extra hard to play for his fallen teammate.
“I feel an extra sense of responsibility to play for him,” Kim told reporters Tuesday, after the suspended Game 1 of the Korean Series against the Tigers was postponed at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field in Gwangju, some 270 kilometers south of Seoul. “I think that mindset has led to some good results.”
Kim had given the Lions a 1-0 lead with his solo home run off starter James Naile in the top of the sixth inning in Game 1 on Monday, minutes before the game was put on hold due to heavy downpours. During the second round against the Twins, Kim launched two home runs in a 10-5 victory in Game 2.
It’s an unexpected power surge for the 35-year-old Kim, who only managed nine home runs in 117 games during the regular season.
Kim said he was shaken up when his batted ball went right at Baek, but the injured pitcher helped put Kim’s mind at ease.
“As soon as that incident happened, I ran straight to the mound to check on him,” Kim said. “But he has tried to keep things light. He said he was lucky that the ball hit the glove first because if it had hit his face directly, it would have caused a terrifying injury. He has taken some burden off my mind.”
Kim said Baek, 37, has been his mentor, someone he has leaned on for advice throughout his career. And the injury hasn’t kept Baek from staying in contact with Kim on a daily basis.
“We talk all the time, but honestly, we just talk about boring, everyday things,” Kim said. “One thing he told me lately was that he recommended meditation because he found it really useful. So he’s trying to help me any way he can. That makes me go out there and play hard for him.”
(Yonhap)
