pivops.xyz

The game between LG and SSK at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on April 27. Kim Min-sung (LG) started at second base in the 9th spot.

Kim went 2-for-5 with two doubles, a home run, and three RBIs. After hitting a solo home run over the left-center field fence against Oh Won-seok in the fifth inning, Kim hit a two-run shot over the left field fence against Lee Ki-soon in the sixth inning. It was his third home run in as many at-bats.스포츠토토

He was not only impressive on offense, but also on defense. After hitting two home runs, Kim Min-sung moved to first base for Kim Hyun-soo in the sixth inning. In the seventh inning, he played third base in place of Moon Bo-kyung. As the score gap widened significantly, Kim Hyun-soo and Moon Bo-kyung were replaced early due to their physical condition. Kim Min-sung played three positions on the day, switching from second base to first base to third base.

Kim has been performing well as an infield utility this season. Since spring training, Kim has been preparing for a “backup starter” role that covers all positions in the infield. It was a new challenge. After playing almost exclusively at third base since moving to LG in 2019, Kim played 45 innings at second base late last season.

Yeom Kyung-yup’s plan for the season was to have Lee Jae-won at first base, Seo Gun-chang at second base, Moon Bo-kyung at third base, and Oh Ji-hwan at shortstop. When Lee Jae-won was sidelined before the start of the season due to a series of injuries, the first base position was changed to Austin Joo.

When Oh went down with a side injury for about two weeks in mid-April, Kim Min-sung filled in well at shortstop during his absence. It was Kim’s first start at shortstop in six years, dating back to 2017 with the Nexen.

Since Seo Gun-chang was sent down to the second team in mid-May due to his hitting slump, Kim Min-sung has seen the most playing time at second base. He also plays third base when Moon Bo-kyung, the main third baseman, has a day off. If Moon, who was selected to the Asian Games, is out of the team for the Hangzhou Asian Games in September, Kim will have to fill in at third base.

As a utility player, Kim has a good bat. He is batting .181 (52-for-52) with four home runs, 31 RBIs, 24 runs scored, and a .767 OPS. He’s already surpassed his three home runs from last year. He contributes to his team with clutch hits in the bottom of the order.

Through 29 games, Kim has played 224 innings at second base, 116 at shortstop, 51 at first base, and 45 at third base. He has played more than 45 innings in each of the four infield positions. He’s an all-around good guy.

Kim is the only player in the KBO to play at least 45 innings in all four infield positions this season. Every team has an infield utility, but most of them rotate between two or three positions. It’s rare for a utility player to play all four positions like Kim Min-sung. Even if you look at past examples, it’s hard to find.

KIA’s Kim Kyu-sung played 19 innings at first base, 151.1 innings at second base, 15⅓ innings at third base, and 38 innings at shortstop. He is more of a backup than a starter. KT’s Lee Sang-ho has 22⅔ innings at first base, 68 innings at second base, 46⅓ innings at third base, and 3 innings at shortstop.

SSG’s Kim Sung-hyun, Ahn Sang-hyun, and Kim Chan-hyung all cover second, third, and shortstop spots except for first base. NC has Do Tae-hoon (1B, 2B, 3B) and Seo Ho-cheol (2B, 3B, shortstop) playing multiple positions with utility skills.

Lotte manager Sutton praised Park Seung-wook and Lee Hak-joo as the best utility players in the league. Park has played 173⅔ innings at second base, 105 innings at shortstop, and 65⅔ innings at third base. He has yet to play first base.