Kim`s 8 Months Feels Like 8 Years

He had to suffer numerous fatal events – having a surgery on his both hip joints, a drunken-driving incident, a struggle to get his share from his team and writing a note that promises his own responsibility for any kind of “safety accidents” during the game.

This is what the famous baseball player Kim Jae-hyun had to do to get permission from his team LG to play a game. It has been a short period of eight months, but has been the most difficult and precious time for him.

He will finally come back to the ground in the latter half of this year, but he will not say much.

“I was in the darkness, but endured it only with my passion for baseball. I am so sorry for some of the unfortunate incidents. I will not say anything about LG. If I could play again, I will do whatever it takes.”

Kim will hit the ground again starting from July 25th at Jamsil with Doosan.

His physical condition is not so bad able to hit and run except for defense. However, he was put under the punishment of not being able to play five games by the Korean Baseball Organization for his drunken-driving incidence.

LG team coach Lee Kwang-hwan expects that Kim`s playing will add a lot to the team power which has suffered from continuous injuries of its major players such as Lee Byung-kyu and Kim Sang-hyun.

The coach said, “Kim has still got his hitting gift. I will let him play as a pinch hitter at first and let him play as a No. 5 designated hitter as time goes by.”

Kim forced himself to play in the Korean Series last year without accepting his previous coach Kim Sung-gun`s advice to get a surgery. He drove in two runs during the sixth game showing his power. Korean professional baseball is lucky to have this kind of player.

Hwan-Soo Zang zangpabo@donga.com