The identity of “KBO Rigger” Kim Ha-seong (28-San Diego Padres) was clear. A shortstop with the most power. Hit 133 home runs in 891 career games. He hit 20 or more home runs in three consecutive seasons (2016-2018) and became the third shortstop in history to hit 30 home runs (in a single season) in 2020, just before he reached Major League Baseball (MLB).

Upon reaching MLB, he struggled against pitchers topping 150 mph. In his rookie season (2021), he hit just .231 against fastballs, including four-seam fastballs (fastballs), two-seam fastballs (fastballs), cut fastballs (cutters), and sinkers.먹튀검증

But last season (2022), that number rose to .262. This season, he’s batting .246 against fastballs, but has a .408 on-base percentage. He’s gotten better every year.

It shows in his record. On March 3 (KST), Kim started at first base and batted second against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, and with the bases loaded in the top of the eighth inning, he hit his 10th home run of the season off opposing pitcher Andrew Abbott. He is one home run shy of tying his single-season record (11), set last season (2022). And the first half isn’t even over yet.

His recent hitting has been even better. In his last 10 games, he’s hit five home runs. He broke his monthly record for home runs in June (four) and arched one in his second appearance in July. On the season, he’s batting .258 with a .418 on-base percentage.

All five of his recent home runs have come on fastballs. His ninth home run, a 97.3-mile-per-hour (156.6 km/h) fastball from opposing pitcher Luis Ortiz on May 30 against the Pittsburgh Pirates, went over the left field wall. “It was the fastest pitch (from a pitcher) that Kim has hit for a home run in his three seasons in the MLB (2021-2023),” MLB.com said of the shot.

On June 26 against the Washington Nationals, Kim took a 156.1 mph (97 km/h) fastball from Jordan Weems over the left field fence. Kim had only hit a 97-mph fastball for a home run once before last year.

He hit a 147.9 mph sinker from left-hander Patrick Corbin on June 24 against the Nationals and a 147.1 mph sinker from Jake Newness the day before against the San Francisco Giants.

Kim has become one of the KBO’s most recognizable “big bat” infielders, with his hitting ability improving every season. While his team, the San Diego Padres, have struggled against the odds with a record of 38 wins and 46 losses this season, Kim has been shining.