Although he was forced to take a year off due to a notorious criminal, his ability to resolve crucial moments has not dulled. Kim In-tae (Doosan Bears) has returned as the new steal star we know.
The professional baseball outfielder Kim In-tae of the Doosan Bears was a pinch hitter in the season's fourth game against the Kiwoom Heroes on the 23rd at the Seoul Gocheok Sky Dome, becoming the hero of the comeback winning hit.
It was the top of the 5th inning with Doosan trailing 1-2. Leadoff batter Jake Cave got a single to right field, followed by Yang Seok-hwan hitting a double to left field, chasing Kiwoom's starting pitcher Kim Yoon-ha off the mound. Then, Kim Jae-hwan drew a walk from the new pitcher Kim Sung-min after a full count, loading the bases, and 3rd base runner Cave scored the tying run due to a throwing error by 2nd baseman Song Seong-mun. Song Seong-mun caught the ground ball by Kim Min-seok but the throw was a bit off, resulting in a video review that showed catcher Kim Jae-hyun's foot slightly off home plate.
The next batter, Kang Seung-ho, struck out swinging, changing the situation to two outs and the bases loaded. Kiwoom brought in veteran Won Jong-hyun to the mound, and Manager Lee Seung-yeop pulled out Kim In-tae as a pinch hitter instead of Park Jun-young. It was a strategy aimed at a crucial moment.
Kim In-tae aggressively swung his bat from the first pitch by Won Jong-hyun, creating a foul. He then connected with the second pitch, a 141 km slider that came down the middle, resulting in a two-run game-winning hit to the right field. It was the moment he hit the decisive hit.
Doosan scored a total of 5 runs in just the top of the 5th inning, then added a solo home run by Yang Seok-hwan in the top of the 6th and a sacrifice fly by Kang Seung-ho in the top of the 9th to defeat Kiwoom 8-2, breaking a three-game losing streak.
After the game, Kim In-tae smiled and said, "It feels like it's been a really long time since I've done an interview. I went up to bat as a pinch hitter in a tie situation where runs were really needed. I usually try to hit aggressively as a pinch hitter, but with two outs, I approached the plate with an even more aggressive mindset," as he shared the secret to his game-winning hit.
Kim In-tae's performance this season includes a batting average of .385 over 18 games (10 hits in 26 at-bats), with 1 home run, 8 RBIs, and an OPS of 1.082. His pinch hitting average is an impressive .583, and his average with runners in scoring position is also high at .385. This reflects the strong impact he has made despite limited opportunities, living up to his nickname as the new steal star.
How does he consistently maintain good batting form despite not being a starter? Kim In-tae explained, "The secret is practice. Of course, all players practice a lot, but I try to do it even more. I swing harder than usual in the dugout to prepare for pinch hitting. I turn the bat as often as I can. I not only give this advice to myself but also to the juniors who go up after me."
Pinch hitters are usually called upon in the latter half of the game when a big hit is needed. Therefore, there is a high probability of facing the closing pitcher with the best stuff from the bullpen. While the pressure of such situations can be significant, Kim In-tae stated, "First of all, I need to go in with confidence for good results. I don't worry too much about the opposing pitcher. Believing in myself comes first."
What makes Kim In-tae's performance this year even more remarkable is that he essentially took an entire year off last year due to involvement in an unfortunate incident. Kim In-tae was prescribed psychoactive drugs by proxy while in the hospital under the coercion of his former teammate, Oh Jae-won, resulting in legal consequences and an 80-hour community service penalty from the KBO.
The KBO Disciplinary Committee explained the reason for issuing only community service sanctions without a playing ban, taking into account factors such as the players being in a difficult situation to refuse the demands from senior players under coercion and threats, the club's actions that kept them from participating in most games during the season, and the fact that they admitted their wrongdoing and reported themselves.
Kim In-tae expressed, "Last year, I worked out alone and tried to avoid watching TV as much as possible. But this year, when I came back, I found that the fans had increased significantly. It feels real that I'm back, and it gives me more motivation. So I try harder to do well."
If it weren't for the support and encouragement from those around him, Kim In-tae would not have endured the past year. He said, "Many people around me offered good words. 'It will be okay,' 'Just hang in there a little longer,' and many other remarks were comforting. This helped not only me but also other players to stay mentally strong and keep practicing," adding, "I am very grateful to the team for the consideration they showed. Thanks to them, I was able to endure."
Having overcome a year of hiatus to reclaim his identity as the new steal star, Kim In-tae's next goal is to become a starter. He stated, "As a player, it is natural to have ambition. Although I am coming in as a pinch hitter, I need to produce results there to get a chance to start. I will continue to prepare and look for opportunities while competing against Jo Soo-hyung and Kim Min-seok."
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