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Orioles’ Kim Hyun-soo now 0 for 21

March 9, 2016
Kim Hyun-soo is still looking for his first hit in America. (Yonhap)

Kim Hyun-soo is still looking for his first hit in America. (Yonhap)

By The Korea Times Los Angeles staff

The Baltimore Orioles gave him a day off to clear his head, but it didn’t help. Kim Hyun-soo is now 0 for 21 and he still hasn’t been on base. Kim’s batting average and on-base percentage are both stuck at .000 after seven preseason games.

The Orioles signed the 28-year-old Korean outfielder because they liked his left-handed bat and his discipline at the plate. Even if his .318 career batting average in Korean league doesn’t exactly translate over to the Major League, they figured he’ll still find a way to get on base plenty of times, as he showed last year by walking 101 times, to justify his two-year $7 million contract.

But no one expected 0 for 21 start with not even a walk.

What’s making it worse is that Kim is pressing and self-doubt must be setting in.

It’s not that he cannot make contact. He has struck out only three times. But he hasn’t been able to hit the ball with any authority, which impresses no one.

On Wednesday against the Philadelphia Phillies, Kim did drive one out to the warning track, but the left fielder caught the ball. He then grounded out to first baseman and flied out to right to extend the hitless streak.

But then, Kim is hardly the only one struggling as the Orioles have yet to win a game this spring. The Orioles are hitting barely over .200 as a team, and managed only six hits in a 8-4 loss to the Phillies, to fall to 0-9.

 

One Comment

  1. HADA-Japanese MLB Fan-

    April 12, 2016 at 3:30 AM

    Hyun Soo Kim
    first Major League hit！
    Congratulations!！

    Reply