Kim Hwi-jip drops to last place with five RBIs for the first time in history, Kiwoom's new hope
Professional baseball Kiwoom Heroes fell to the bottom of the league, struggling with injuries and sluggishness, but shortstop Kim Hwi-jip, born in 2002, burst his potential with his first five RBIs in his career, including a home run, sparking hope. 스포츠토토
Kiwoom lost 8-12 in a home game against the Lotte Giants at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on the 10th. Starting pitcher Jung Chan-heon collapsed with five runs in 3 2/3 innings and gave up the game. The previous day, he broke his ninth consecutive loss, the club's record tie, and lost again, falling to 10th place in the league in 835 days since April 27, 2021.
Kim Hwi-jip, who set the record for the most RBIs in a single game, took center stage in the batting line even at the moment of defeat. He started as a shortstop for the fifth batter and hit Han Hyun-hee's fastball in the bottom of the first inning with one out and runners on first and second bases, dropping it in front of the center field, and called in one runner. At the end of the third inning, trailing 3-5, he saved the chase with a one-run home run over the left fence.
Kim Hwijip's RBI march did not stop. In the bottom of the fifth inning, the ball hit high against changed pitcher Shin Jung-rak fell between shortstop, left fielder and center fielder, and both first and second base runners stepped home. At the bottom of the ninth inning, opposing shortstop Lee Hak-joo missed the ball that he pulled hard and completed five RBIs.
On the 8th, when he lost nine consecutive games, he scored the team's only goal with a home run. However, in the top of the ninth inning, he allowed a run due to a decisive error that dropped the ball back in a 1-2 chase.Kim Hwi-jip, who was out of power due to a hamstring injury on June 26, has been swinging two home runs, six RBIs and a batting average of 0.438 in five games since the NC Dinos match on the 5th, his return match. The season's batting average has risen to 0.264 and reached last season's records (8 home runs, 36 RBIs) with 6 home runs and 28 RBIs, seeking solver instincts.
Along with Lee Ju-hyung, who was born in 2001 and transferred from the LG Twins on the 29th of last month, Kim Hwi-jip is drawing attention as a player who will lead the batting lineup for more than 10 years. With Lee Jung-hoo out of the team due to injury and Lee Hyung-jong sluggish, Kiwoom can also escape from the last place only when the two players born in the 2000s revitalize.
Kiwoom manager Hong Won-ki said before the game the previous day, "They are players who have to play a role in the lineup when there are no Lee Jung-hoo and Kim Hye-sung in the future team," adding, "Now we are in the stage of drawing." "We will consider which batting order is the most suitable through various attempts," he explained.