Seoul: When LG Twins outfielder Kim Hyun-soo stepped into the box with one out in the bottom of the 10th inning of a 1-1 tie against the Hanwha Eagles on Friday, he was a hit away from 2,500 for his career. Only three other players had reached that mark in Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) history. But Kim, 37, wasn't thinking of his personal milestone in that moment.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim expressed after the game, "At that moment, I forgot that I was at 2,499," grinning after the Twins walked off the Eagles 2-1 at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul. Kim emphasized his focus on contributing to the team's win rather than clinching his milestone. He successfully doubled to right-center field after an eight-pitch battle against Eagles closer Kim Seo-hyeon, joining an elite group of players in the 2,500-hit club.
Kim Hyun-soo was replaced by pinch runner Son Yung-jun, who scored the decisive run on Cheon Seong-ho's walk-off single later in the inning. "I am just happy that we won the game," Kim stated, downplaying the significance of his career achievement.
The KBO had initially reported Kim as four hits away from 2,500 earlier in the day. However, a scoring change in a previous game credited him with an additional hit, bringing him closer to the milestone. Kim acknowledged his awareness of the situation but maintained his focus on the team's success.
The victory was significant for the Twins, who extended their lead over the Eagles to two games, securing the first-place position with a 64-41-2 record. The team's performance since the All-Star break has been outstanding, boasting a 16-3-0 record.
Despite the current standings, Kim remains cautious, acknowledging the remaining games in the regular season. "I think it's still too early to say we have the upper hand on the Eagles," Kim remarked, suggesting a reassessment closer to the end of the season.