“I love Kimmy (Kim’s nickname).”
That’s what San Diego Padres closer Josh Hader, 29, said with a big smile when Kim’s name came up during All-Star Media Day on Nov. 11.
It’s clear from that smile that Kim is a beloved member of the team. “He’s one of my favorite people I’ve ever met,” Hader said of Kim.
San Diego head coach Bob Melvin called Kim “the engine of the team. It means that he brings energy to the team.
Heider agrees. “Look at what he does on the field. He works really hard. Whatever he does, he gives it his all. You can’t ask for much more from a teammate.”
Kim’s most notable attribute is his defense. According to Baseball Servant, he is +11 in Out Above Average (OAA), a measure of defensive ability, tied for the best in the league with Wander Franco (Tampa Bay).
Hader is one of the best closers in the league right now. In 33 1/3 innings pitched in 35 games in the first half, he posted a 1.08 ERA. He saved 21 of his 24 save opportunities.
He strikes out more batters than he walks. He walks 5.1 batters per nine innings, but he also strikes out 13.5 batters per nine innings.
With so many strikeouts, he probably doesn’t need much help from his defense, but he shakes his head. “It makes me feel really comfortable,” he said, emphasizing that having a solid defense helps a lot.
“You can see it in his plays in recent games. He was able to handle a difficult short-ball hit with no problem. It was a beautiful play,” he said, referring to Kim’s recent performances.온라인카지노
“As a pitcher, I don’t think you have to be perfect. You have to trust your defense and throw. With a beast like Kim covering the ground and making good plays, it makes my job easier. I don’t have to strike out in every game,” he said, adding that Kim’s defense is helping him a lot.