This year, Kim Ha-seong (San Diego Padres) has been swinging less than in previous years.

The San Diego Union-Tribune reported on the 3rd (Korean time), "Kim Ha-seong is one of the pickiest hitters in Major League Baseball. His discipline has been particularly noticeable this season," noting, "No player in MLB has swung at strikes less than Kim Ha-seong in 2024. Through the 3rd, he has swung at only 51.6% of pitches in the strike zone and 17.9% of pitches outside the zone, the fifth-lowest in MLB." According to FanGraphs, the league averages are about 65% for pitches in the zone and around 30% for pitches outside the zone.

From his rookie season in 2021 through 2023, Kim Ha-seong recorded a 56.4% swing rate at pitches in the zone (7th in MLB) and a 22.5% rate at pitches outside the zone (36th).

Kim Ha-seong commented, "I always think there's room for improvement. But I've always performed better when I didn't swing at bad pitches," adding, "So I think it can be seen positively."

Overall, Kim Ha-seong's offensive stats this season are not impressive. Through June, he has a slash line of .228/.336/.388 with 10 home runs. While slightly ahead of last year's home run pace (17), it's much lower than his 2023 line of .260/.351/.398.

Kim Ha-seong acknowledged, "My offensive performance hasn't met my standards and expectations. But as the season progresses, it seems to be getting better."

Recently, Kim Ha-seong has become even more selective, swinging at only 50% of pitches in the zone and 16% of pitches outside the zone over his last 25 games. However, he has drawn more walks, recording 11 walks and only 7 hits in 58 plate appearances from June 5 to 21.

Lately, his hit numbers have increased. Before the game on the 3rd, he had a 9-game hitting streak with a .344 average (11 hits in 32 at-bats) and a .400 on-base percentage.

Conventionally, pitches in the strike zone should be hit, and pitches outside should be watched. But Kim Ha-seong tends to watch both, raising concerns that his excessive caution might cause him to miss opportunities to hit.먹튀검증

Did he reveal his dream of joining the MLB too early? Japanese media are seemingly turning their backs on Roki Sasaki (Chiba Lotte Marines). Even former Doosan Bears coach Tsutomu Ito has criticized Sasaki's current approach.

Sasaki has recorded 5 wins, 2 losses, and a 1.96 ERA in 9 games this season, pitching 59⅔ innings with 70 strikeouts, showcasing his "Dr. K" prowess. However, his frequent injuries are a problem, making it difficult to meet the minimum innings requirement for the season. Despite already playing 71 games, Chiba Lotte faces challenges with Sasaki needing 83⅓ more innings to meet the requirement, and he's not ready to return soon.

Tokyo Sports reported on the 2nd, "Roki Sasaki's weak physique is causing controversy in various ways." The media noted his impressive stats but highlighted his removal from the roster twice due to right arm issues after only 9 games and 59⅔ innings this season.

Chiba Lotte manager Masato Yoshii explained, "There was a two-week interval between starts, and the same issue occurred. We decided to remove him from the roster as starting every six days seemed difficult." Regarding Sasaki's return, he stated, "It's hard for me to say. It depends on the trainers and how Sasaki feels."

Former manager Ito criticized on his YouTube channel, "He has never pitched a full season. While he seems to be eyeing MLB in the future, as an observer, it's somewhat disappointing." He added, "What is he looking at? While it's great to aim for MLB, he should be pitching for Japan and his team right now."

Negative perceptions are growing around Sasaki, with concerns about his commitment. Tokyo Sports reported, "Sasaki is influenced by adults around him, making it hard for others to see where his true intentions lie. He is in a situation that is difficult to understand."

Unlike Shohei Ohtani (LA Dodgers) and Yusei Kikuchi (Toronto Blue Jays), who clearly expressed their MLB ambitions, and Rintaro Sasaki, who chose a different path by attending Stanford University, Roki Sasaki's true intentions remain unclear, leading to misunderstandings.먹튀검증사이트