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Kang Jung-ho ends slump with 2-run HR, 3 RBIs

March 30, 2015

Pittsburgh Pirates’s Francisco Cervelli, right, slaps hands his teammate Jung Ho Kang, after hitting a solo home run in the fifth inning during an exhibition spring training. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

By Brian Han

Pittsburgh Pirates’ infielder Kang Jung-ho broke out of a slump with a two-run homer in the ninth inning of Sunday’s exhibition game to lift his team 4-2 over the Atlanta Braves.

Kang went 2-for-4 with an additional single and three RBIs while playing second base rather than his usual position at shortstop.

“It was a very, very good day at the plate for him,” said Manager Clint Hurdle. “He stayed on a breaking ball and lined out. Was able to single sharp to center, then obviously got to a ball up top and carried that one out. Got on the back side of it and rode it out of the ballpark. Nothing can breed confidence like some success for players.”

Going into the game, Kang was batting 2-for-29 and was even sent down to some minor league games last week to get more at-bats.

Even when he was struggling General Manager Neal Huntington said Friday that the Pirates, “have every intent in the world of [Kang] helping us winning games at the Major League level beginning Opening Day.”

His performance on Sunday confirmed that the team’s faith in the South Korean rookie could pay off.

Kang sat out on Monday in the Pirates’ 18-4 win over the Philadelphia Phillies.