Patrick Wisdom, a foreign hitter for the KIA Tigers, started as the sixth batter and third baseman in the season's 8th match against Doosan on the 4th at Seoul's Jamsil Stadium, showcasing a one-man show with 3 hits from 5 at-bats (1 home run), 3 RBIs, and 2 runs, leading his team to an 8-3 victory.
After taking a swing and missing for a strikeout in the second inning, Wisdom got a chance with no outs and runners on first and second in the fourth inning, trailing 1-2. He connected with a clutch hit off Doosan's starting pitcher Choi Min-seok, driving in a run and setting the stage for his three-hit performance.
The highlight came in his third at-bat. In the sixth inning, tied at 3-3 with one out and a runner on first base, Wisdom targeted Lee Young-ha's 6th pitch, a high fastball (152 km), and hit a monstrous home run that traveled 130 meters to left field. With this home run, he reached double-digit home runs for the season for the first time in 41 days since the game against the Daegu Samsung Lions on April 24.
In the eighth inning, leading 5-3 with one out, Wisdom faced Hong Min-kyu and hit a single to center, achieving his second three-hit game of the season after 52 days since the game against Gwangju SSG Landers on April 13. He reached third base on Kim Gyu-sung's double and scored on Kim Tae-gun's sacrifice fly.
After the game, Wisdom reflected on the situation surrounding his first home run since returning from injury, stating, "The opposing pitcher was very good, and since there were runners on base, I tried to stay calm at the plate. When the catcher took a moment to catch his breath, I aimed to inject positive energy into myself, believing I could do well. It was truly a meaningful home run that I think will stay in my memory for a long time."
Wisdom, who boasts 88 career home runs in Major League Baseball, suffered a back injury in mid-last month and was sidelined from play. Initially, manager Lee Beom-ho predicted a recovery period of about ten days, but due to slower-than-expected healing, he made his return after 20 days.
Wisdom expressed, "Pain or discomfort is something I cannot control myself, so there was nothing I could do. However, returning in an unstable state instead of at 100% wouldn't help the team either. I've come back ready to give 100% to contribute positively to the team."
Since his return on June 1, Wisdom has been hitting impressively, tallying 7 hits from 15 at-bats, including 1 home run and 4 RBIs, for a batting average of .467 over 3 games. He has had multi-hit games in his last three outings.
He continued, "When I was in rehab, many staff members provided great assistance for my recovery. Thanks to the club's efforts, I feel like I can come back and contribute well. I'm truly thankful to everyone."
Before his injury, Wisdom primarily played as a first baseman, but upon returning, he moved to third base due to the absence of Kim Do-young. When asked if he felt burdened by the positional change, he shared, "There's not a huge burden from a defensive standpoint, but I really miss Kim Do-young since he's been out."
KIA, despite injuries to key players such as Kim Do-young, Na Sung-bum, Kim Sun-bin, and Lee Eui-ri, has showed improvement with their growing young talents, riding a three-game winning streak. Wisdom's return is also a significant boost for KIA.
Wisdom commented, "I always want to do something for the team. Whether players are present or absent, I've had a strong desire to show something. Many players are out with injuries, but the nine players on the field will do their best for the team's victory," expressing hope for KIA's advancement.
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