Byung-Hyun Kim
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Byung-Hyun Kim (born January 21, 1979 in Gwangju, South Korea) is a right-handed pitcher who has played for the Colorado Rockies since 2005. Previously, he played for the Arizona Diamondbacks (1999-2003), and the Boston Red Sox (2003-2004).
Usually described as a submarine pitcher, Kim is a side-arm and under-arm hard thrower who uses a great variety of deliveries. Kim possesses a fastball frequently hitting the low 90's, a decent curve, a slider, a sinker, a two-seam fastball, and a changeup which he uses to freeze opposing hitters. Nevertheless, his main problem has been a lack of concentration and an inability to handle pressure. He struggles against left-handed batters.
Named both the Most Valuable Player and Most Valuable Pitcher for the National High School championships in Korea, Kim was selected to the 1996 National Junior Team, then named to the National Team in both 1997 and 1998. In that year, he manhandled the US Olympic team, striking out 15 batters in 6 2/3 innings. Later, he helped Korea claim the gold medal in the Asian Games held in Bangkok, Thailand.
| Byung-Hyun Kim | |
|---|---|
| Hangul: |
김병현
|
| Hanja: |
金炳賢
|
| Revised Romanization: | Gim Byeong-hyeon |
| McCune-Reischauer: | Kim Pyŏng-hyŏn |
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[edit] 1999 season
Kim was signed by Arizona on February 19, 1999, one month after his 20th birthday, and debuted on May 29 at Shea Stadium. He came in to pitch in the bottom of the ninth inning, and after retiring Edgardo Alfonzo and John Olerud, struck out Mike Piazza and got the save in the Diamondbacks' 8-7 victory over the Mets.
[edit] 2000-2002 seasons
In the 2000 season, Kim got the closer role when incumbent Matt Mantei opened the season on the disabled list. For the year, Kim struck out 111 hitters in just 70.2 innings pitched (14.14 per nine innings), including 11 out of 12 batters over five games, and twice struck out eight consecutive batters. But Kim would also struggle in part of the season. After his 14 saves and a 1.82 ERA over his first 28 appearances, he was demoted to Triple-A Tucson at the end of July. Mostly used as a starter in order to restore his confidence, Kim came back to Arizona a month later. With Mantei reinserted as the official closer, Kim pitched as a setup man and also started a game after recording 84 relief appearances.
Arizona turned to Kim again as a closer after Mantei was lost to injury for the rest of the 2001 season. Kim responded with 19 saves, a 2.94 ERA, and 113 strikeouts in 98 innings, but he suffered two humiliating setbacks facing the Yankees in the 2001 World Series. With the Diamondbacks up two games to one going into Game Four, Kim relieved Curt Schilling in the eighth inning with the Diamondbacks leading 3-1. Then, in the bottom of the ninth, Tino Martinez's two-out, two-run home run tied the game, and another home run hit by Derek Jeter in the bottom of the tenth won the game and tied the Series. Kim was charged with the loss. The night after, in Game Five, the Yankees again came from a two-run, two-out deficit in the ninth inning, to defeat the Diamondbacks in 12 innings. Kim was again victimized, this time by Scott Brosius, whose two-run home run tied the score. Later, Alfonso Soriano hit a single in the bottom of the 12th to win the game. Despite Kim's misadventures, the Diamondbacks clinched the World Championship in Game Seven.
In 2002, Kim showed no lingering effects from his embarrassing performance in the World Series. He set a single-season franchise record for saves (36), breaking the old mark set by Gregg Olson in 1998 (30). Kim finished the season with an 8-3 record, 92 strike outs, and a career-best 2.04 ERA in a team-high 72 appearances. On May 11, 2002, Kim struck out three batters on nine pitches — Scott Rolen, Mike Lieberthal and Pat Burrell — in the eighth inning of a 10-inning 6-5 win over the Philadelphia Phillies. Kim became the 23rd National League pitcher and the 32nd pitcher in Major League history to accomplish the nine-strike/three-strikeout half-inning. In that season, Kim also was selected for the All-Star Game.
[edit] 2003-2004 seasons
Kim was moved into the rotation in 2003 after he was dealt to Boston for Shea Hillenbrand. Kim remained as a starter through June, when the Red Sox needed him in the bullpen. He became their closer in July and compiled 16 saves, but the team was unwilling at first to learn how to deal with his highs and lows. Kim was pulled in his only Division Series appearance and was left off the ALCS with shoulder stiffness. As a starter, Kim went 3-6 with a fine 3.38 ERA in 12 appearances. He seemed capable to perform in that role, but in 2004 his ineffectiveness cost him a spot in the rotation after going 1-1 with a 6.17 ERA in three starts. Kim was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket in May and rejoined the Red Sox in September. He was used in the bullpen and won one game in 5.2 innings of work.
In a six-year career, Byung-Hyun Kim has compiled a 31-28 record with 455 strikeouts and a 3.37 ERA in 419.2 innings. He has collected 86 saves in 299 games (283 as a reliever).
[edit] 2005 season
Before the 2005 season, the Red Sox sent Kim to the Colorado Rockies, with general manager Theo Epstein calling the two-year deal given to him in 2004 "a mistake." Kim was traded for left-handed pitcher Chris Narveson, who was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket, and catcher Charles Johnson, who was immediately designated for assignment and released. As part of the trade, Colorado sent Boston about $2.6 million to equalize the salaries. Johnson was owed $9 million and Kim $6 million, part of the $10 million, two-year deal he signed before the 2004 season. After a difficult start in Colorado out of the bullpen, Kim was given a shot in the Rockies rotation in May. He went on to become arguably the teams' most consistent starter, going 5-9 with a 4.37 ERA when he toed the rubber at the beginning of games. He filed for free agency on November 1, 2005, and, while many experts consider pitching in Colorado's thin air "career suicide," Kim re-signed with the Rockies. He will be earning $1.25 million in 2006 with a club option worth $2.5 million in 2007 (with a $250k buyout).
[edit] World Baseball Classic
Kim represented Korea in the World Baseball Classic, a tournament held during spring training before the 2006 season. In the semifinal game against Japan, Byung-Hyun Kim came in to relieve Jae Weong Seo in the top of the 7th inning and then preceded to give up a two run home run to Kosuke Fukudome. Shades of his 2001 World Series performance, Kim gave up a crucial two run home run that led to Korea's elimination from the WBC.
[edit] 2006 season
Kim began the 2006 campaign with the Colorado Rockies on the disabled list. Upon his successful rehabilitation he made his season debut on April 30, 2006 against the Florida Marlins in Florida. Kim pitched impressively, giving up only one run on five hits while striking out a career high nine batters. Kim established himself in the Rockies starting rotation for the season.
On Sunday, May 28th, he immortalized himself in baseball history. He not only became the 421st pitcher to give up a home run to Barry, he gave up home run #715 of Barry Bonds' career, moving him ahead of Babe Ruth for sole possession of second place on the all-time career home runs list.
On July 28, 2006 he had 5 consecutive strike-outs against the San Diego Padres.
[edit] Career Highlights
- 2-time World Series Champion (2001 Arizona Diamondbacks, 2004 Boston Red Sox)
- 1-time All-Star (NL - 2002)
