“Did you really born in Korea?”
LG Twins outfielder Kim Hyun-soo (37), who has become the very essence of the KBO League All-Star Game. Having been selected as a manager's recommended player this year, he will make his 16th appearance in the All-Star Game. Over 18 years of playing in the KBO League, he has participated in the All-Star Game every year except for the first two years in 2006-2007, making him the player with the most appearances in KBO League All-Star Games.
Kim Hyun-soo has recorded a batting average of .299 (88 hits in 294 at-bats), 7 home runs, and 58 RBIs in 87 games this season, showing a pace to break double-digit home runs for the first time in three years since hitting 23 home runs in 2022.
Kim Hyun-soo said, “I try to have fun every time I come out for the All-Star Game. The players who come after me should just do well in the dugout and come out when it's their turn.” He added, “I try not to attach too much significance to it. I am grateful for being selected so many times.”
Now, player performances in the All-Star Game have become an unmissable scene. However, Kim Hyun-soo noted, “I thought about it, but for the players coming after me, if their performances aren’t striking, they may go unnoticed and just finish quietly. I plan to pass quietly.” He laughed while supporting his juniors, saying, “I remember the performances that I could never do. Last year, the players danced well and performed well in front of the camera.”
Excluding this year, he picked the 2010 All-Star Game as the most memorable among the past 15 All-Star Games. He recalled, “It rained during the game in Daegu. In the first inning, I remember (Kim) Kwang-hyun giving up 8 runs and not even completing the inning. However, our team turned it around and won. But I couldn’t get a hit.”
In the 2010 All-Star Game mentioned by Kim Hyun-soo, Eastern All-Star starting pitcher Kim Kwang-hyun allowed 6 runs in ⅓ inning and was pulled early, but the Eastern All-Stars eventually won 9-8 with a walk-off hit from Hwang Jae-kyun (then of Lotte). At that time, Kim Hyun-soo had no hits in 2 at-bats and recorded 1 walk.
Although he is a living witness of the All-Star Game, ironically, he has never been named All-Star Game MVP. Reflecting on the 2019 All-Star Game, Kim Hyun-soo laughed, saying, “I think I had a chance to win MVP, but my teammate Ko Woo-seok’s misfire ruined the opportunity.” Selected as the leading vote-getter in the fan voting, Kim Hyun-soo recorded an MVP-level performance with 2 hits and 4 RBIs in 5 at-bats, including a tying two-run homer and a go-ahead two-run single, but the team lost due to Ko Woo-seok allowing 3 runs in the 9th inning. That year, the MVP was Han Yoo-seom.
Having seen countless players, there is one player he is particularly curious about in this year's All-Star Game: KT Wiz's Ahn Hyun-min (22). Ahn Hyun-min is this year's hottest commodity in the league, boasting a batting average of .356 (77 hits in 216 at-bats), 16 home runs, 53 RBIs, 42 runs, 5 stolen bases, and an OPS of 1.113.
He said, “He really hits far. I thought it was just his strength, but I think he has good contact skills. He seems to show even better power because he makes precise contact, which left a strong impression on me.” He mentioned, “There were times I wondered if he was really Korean. Jokingly at first base, I even asked if he had a foreign ancestor. I seriously think he is too good of a player. He has great natural strength, but he also seems to have put in a lot of effort. His body is solid, and his swing itself is very powerful and has good contact abilities,” he praised enthusiastically.
After starting the season with a seven-game winning streak and leading the standings, LG recently stumbled and ceded the top spot to Hanwha, currently sitting in second place, 4.5 games back. He said, “In the beginning, we were a really strong team. However, injuries occurred, and the players faced hardships. Still, I think finishing in second place is a good accomplishment.” He added, “Every player has their share of regrets, but we will fill in our shortcomings well during the All-Star break and prepare well for the second half of the season. I don’t think the first place is that close, but it’s not too far either, so I will prepare hard to achieve good results that can help us catch up.”
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