‘Push-up during the game’ KIA starting pitcher… ‘Why are you acting like that? Both the coach and the players admired
“How does a defense like a professional infielder come out?”
Medina, a foreigner of KIA, started as a starter in the KIA-Hanwha match of the ‘2023 KBO League Demonstration Game’ held at Daejeon Hanwha Life Insurance Eagles Park on the morning of the 14th.
In the bottom of the third inning, Hanwha Oh Seon-jin appeared as the lead batter. He pulled Medina’s third pitch, but the ball rolled slowly toward the third base line. Kia Medina sprinted toward the batted ball and caught the batted ball that rolled faster than third baseman Ryu Ji-hyeok.
After catching the batted ball, he threw to first base perfectly even as he fell backwards as his center of gravity fell back. Falling backwards, Medina fell to the floor. He had his eyes on first base.
When Oh Seon-jin was put out at first base, he smiled as he did two push-ups as if he was embarrassed that he had fallen.
Seeing this, Jihyeok Ryu encouraged Hosobi by slapping Medina’s butt. Medina, who caught the runner with a difficult defense, smiled broadly and headed back to the mound while talking with Ryu Ji-hyeok. 메이저놀이터
The broadcasters praised Medina’s defensive skills, saying, “Are you from an infielder? If you defend like that, the opposing team won’t be able to easily bunt.”
KIA starter Adonis Medina recorded 4 hits (1 home run), 2 strikeouts and 3 runs in 3 innings. His best velocity came up to 152 km, and the number of pitches he threw was 62.
After Medina, Kia’s Yoon Joong-hyun, Lee Jun-young, Jeon Sang-hyun, Kim Dae-yu (1 walk), Kim Yu-shin (1 walk), and Jung Hae-young came up and kept the victory by neatly blocking one inning each.
With 12 hits, Kia avenged the previous day’s defeat by winning 8-3. Choi Hyung-woo hit two doubles, Kim Ho-ryeong had a multi-hit, Ryu Ji-hyeok and Kim Do-yeon had an RBI.
After the game, coach Kim Jong-guk said, “In the second half of the game, the hitters showed their concentration and were able to turn around. Overall, the hitters showed an even performance. The pitchers who came up after Medina did their part and were able to finish the game without additional runs. I ordered it to be reduced, but that part seems to have worked out well.”
He continued, “Medina, who started as a starter today, was the first official game in Korea, and the result is not important.