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Kim Ha-seong "I would have been comfortable if the first hit came sooner...I was impatient"
San Diego Padres shortstop Kim Ha-seong, 28, who returned to South Korea after becoming a big league player, did not hide his disappointment at not getting a hit in front of Korean fans.
"It was an honor to play in front of Korean fans, and it was very good," Kim told Yonhap News Agency after Game 1 of the 2024 Major League Baseball (MLB) World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea. "I will do well after I return to the United States."
"I would have felt more comfortable if the hits came quickly, but I think I was a little impatient because they didn't," he said, adding, "I think I wanted to get (hits) in Korea."
After returning home with the San Diego players on Aug. 15, Kim showed off his bat in a pair of exhibition games, going 1-for-4 with a home run in a scrimmage against the South Korean national team on Aug. 17 and 2-for-4 with two home runs and four RBIs in a scrimmage against the LG Twins on Aug. 18.
However, he struggled in the opening series against the Dodgers.
He went 0-for-3 in the regular-season opener against the Dodgers on Aug. 20 and 1-for-4 with one RBI, one walk and one stolen base on Aug. 21.
In Game 21, San Diego defeated the Dodgers 15-11 behind the power of its offense, including a team-high 17 hits, but Kim didn't get a hit.
Even though he didn't have a standout performance in the regular season game in his hometown, Kim's face wasn't too dark.
"I think I had a good experience," he said, adding, "The team won anyway. We just need to do better when we get back to the U.S.," he said.
Kim will now travel to the United States with his teammates and play in an exhibition game against the Seattle Mariners on the 26th and 27th.
They will open the season against the San Francisco Giants at Petco Park in San Diego, California, on Sept. 29.
Lee Jung-hoo, who played for the KBO League's Kiwoom Heroes, will be playing in San Francisco.
"I'm looking forward to meeting (Lee)," Kim said, "but I won't think of it as anything special and will prepare equally well."