Landers' manager buoyed by veteran starter's turnaround
SSG Landers starter Kim Kwang-hyun pitches against the Kia Tigers during a Korea Baseball Organization regular-season game at Incheon SSG Landers Field in Incheon, just west of Seoul, Sunday. Yonhap
After losing three of his five starts in April and posting an uncharacteristic 6.12 ERA, SSG Landers starter Kim Kwang-hyun has bounced back nicely with a couple of strong outings in May.
For Landers manager Lee Sung-yong, the turnaround couldn't have come a day sooner.
"I think his fastball velocity has ticked up lately and he's been very effective with that pitch," Lee said of Kim during his media scrum Tuesday at Incheon SSG Landers Field in Incheon, just west of Seoul, before hosting the NC Dinos. "And his breaking balls have also improved, and he is locating those pitches much better."
Kim, 36, is one of the top starters of his generation in the Korea Baseball Organization with an MVP trophy and multiple Korean Series titles under his belt, along with a two-year stint with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Last year, though, Kim pitched to a career-worst 4.93 ERA in 31 starts, though he struck out 154 batters, the fourth-highest total of his career.
After a rocky month of April, Kim has allowed just one earned run in 13 innings across two May starts. On Sunday, Kim held the Kia Tigers to one hit over seven innings and struck out seven.
Lee said Kim has developed a nice rapport with a third-string catcher Shin Beom-soo, thrust into the backup role with injury to the starting backstop Lee Ji-young. Shin started both of Kim's games this month.
"I think Beom-soo and Kwang-hyun have good chemistry, and Kwang-hyun really trusts him," the manager said. "Before Sunday's game, he told me he wanted to pitch to Beom-soo. And I think Beom-soo has played a big part in Kwang-hyun's turnaround."
Lee also praised Kim's leadership for volunteering to go on four days' rest for the first time this season and take the mound Thursday. The Landers needed a starter for that day after playing a doubleheader Sunday. Lee settled on Drew Anderson on four days' rest for Thursday, with Kim taking regular rest for Friday's game.
"I am sure Kim's mindset will have a positive influence on the rest of the team," the manager said. "I was grateful for his offer."