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Orioles’ Kim Hyun-soo finally gets first hit

March 10, 2016

Kim Hyun-soo finally has something to smile about. (Yonhap, file)

By The Korea Times Los Angeles staff

Baltimore Orioles’ Korean import Kim Hyun-soo finally has something to smile about. He first got on base for the first time by getting hit by pitch, and then finally broke through with his first hit in the U.S. to even drive in a run.

Kim started the game as the designated hitter and sixth in batting order against the New York Yankees in Grapefruit League action Wednesday and ended the long drought. He grounded out to second in his first at-bat, but finally got on base for the first time in the fourth inning when Yankees’ pitcher Kyle Haynes hit him with his first pitch. It wasn’t the preferred way, but it got one thing out of the way for him, which was getting on base.

Kim got as far as third on another hit-by-pitch and an error, but did not get to score.

Kim flied out to center in the sixth inning against Anthony Swarzak, who played in Korea last year, and it looked like his hitless streak would last another day. But manager Buck Showalter did not pull Kim from the game for a change when the Orioles rallied to load up the bases in the seventh inning to give him another chance.

Kim drove in a run with an infield single toward shortstop, and became the last batter with more than 20 at-bats to register a hit this spring. Kim is now 1 for 24.

The game ended in a 4-4 tie and the Orioles remain winless this spring.