Kim Byung-hyun Named Surprise Starter by Colorado

Kim Byung-hyun (26, Colorado Rockies), who has been in a slump since his move to Colorado, has earned a surprise chance to start a game.

In an announcement issued on the Rockies’ homepage, Kim is set to start the second game of a doubleheader against the Florida Marlins on April 29 at Coors Field, Colorado’s home park. Kim’s start will be his first in nearly a year since going against the Cleveland Indians during his stay with the Boston Red Sox on last May 11.

Kim, traded to Colorado just before the start of the season and currently 0-3 with an ERA of 9.64, is facing a crucial moment amid talks of his dismissal from the team and his possible relegation to the minor leagues. Kim’s chance to start the game came as the match on April 28 ended after the first inning due to a heavy snowfall, creating a gap in the starting rotation.

This would be a splendid opportunity for Kim to re-establish himself on the Colorado pitching staff.

Park Chan-ho (32, Texas Rangers) and Seo Jae-weong (28, New York Mets) will strive for their second consecutive wins on April 30, six days after earning simultaneous wins.

Park will be facing Boston’s Tim Wakefield (28) at Ameriquest Field. Wakefield, who was 12-10 with an ERA 4.87 last year, is a renowned knuckleball pitcher. Slow 100-110 kmph knuckleballs and extra-slow curves are his pitching trademarks. A veteran with a record of 130 career wins and 111 losses, he has two wins and an ERA of 1.75 this season. Park’s career win-loss record against Boston is 1-1, with an ERA of 7.30.

Seo’s opponent will be Washington Nationals’ ace Livan Hernandez (30). Hernandez played a main role in winning the 1997 World Series for the Florida Marlins. With a record of 11-15 last year, and 2-2 with an ERA of 5.34 this season, Hernandez is known for his outstanding ball control and sharp sliders that few can match in the major leagues. Seo went face-to-face against Hernandez during his 2003 rookie season, and lost on two occasions.

Meanwhile, “The Misfortunate Prodigy,” Song Seung-jun (25), joined the San Francisco Giants on April 28. It has been said that Song will go through two-weeks worth of bullpen work and simulated pitching, before eventually joining the starting rotation of the Norwich Navigators, the AA affiliate of the San Francisco Giants.

Sung-Kyu Kim kimsk@donga.com