Is time flowing backward for veteran KT infielder Kim Sang-soo? The 36-year-old, now in his 18th professional season, has seen his bat catch fire once again. After dipping below a .250 batting average earlier this season, he has surged past .300, and his on-base percentage has even exceeded .400.
His ability to grind out at-bats is reflected in the numbers. Through May 12, Kim has appeared in 35 games, posting a .313 batting average (36 hits in 115 at-bats) and a .424 on-base percentage. He has drawn 22 walks while striking out only 14 times. Most notably, he has maintained this hot streak for nearly a month.
In nine May games, he has hit .484. The player himself is encouraged by his recent momentum. “Honestly, I focus more on getting on base than just batting average,” Kim said on April 29. “I try to see as many pitches as possible. I’ve been lucky with some weak contact turning into hits. But hitting .300 still feels great.”
He added, “If I get on base, I can become a link for the team. A hit is just another way to reach base. Staying on base consistently can be a turning point for me as well.”
So far this season, a change from previous years is evident. According to baseball statistics site FanGraphs, Kim’s contact rate stands at 90.0%, up sharply from 84.7% last year. His whiff rate has also dropped from 5.6% to 3.5%.
On May 9 against the Kiwoom Heroes in Gocheok, he set a new personal record. He collected five hits in six at-bats, marking the first time in his career he achieved five hits in a single game. He had five four-hit games with Samsung and four with KT, but never five. “After that last at-bat, I thought to myself, ‘Wow, this is really happening,'” he said with a smile.
The road series in Gocheok boosted his confidence. “Lately, I’ve been trying to aim toward center field, and that approach seems to have helped,” Kim explained. “Even if I get jammed or my swing is late, I’ve become better at turning those into hits. My timing wasn’t bad, and combining that with this approach has led to a good streak.”
Despite holding first place, KT cannot afford to relax. They have lost two straight and have gone 4-1-5 in their last 10 games. Second-place Samsung, riding an eight-game winning streak, is just one game back. The pressure to maintain the lead is mounting.
Kim has faith in the team’s depth. KT held onto the top spot even with key injuries. Heo Kyung-min and Oh Yun-seok have returned, while Ryu Hyun-in and Ahn Hyun-min are nearing their comebacks. “I think we’ve held up well,” Kim said.
“When the players come back, it will create positive factors in rotation and rest management. We can push forward even better,” he emphasized. “Rather than being greedy, we’re focused on stacking good games one day at a time.”
He added, “We still have over 100 games left, not just 10 or 20. We just need to keep doing what we do.”
Kim won Korean Series championships with Samsung in 2011, 2012, and 2014. In his first year with KT in 2023, they finished as runners-up. “When I was with Samsung, I thought making the postseason every year was normal. Looking back, I realize how difficult it is. If an opportunity comes, you have to seize it,” he said.
Given the strong start this year, he doesn’t hide his desire for a fourth championship ring. “The start has been good, the team composition is great, and the roster is solid,” Kim stressed. Although this is a contract year with free agency approaching, he keeps that out of his mind.
“It would feel great to win the championship and then enter free agency,” Kim said. “This season, I haven’t had any major injuries. I feel well-prepared. I’m just focusing on staying ready for as many games as possible.”