WBC Korea's national infielder 'Shock Confession + Reversal'..."No one knew me when I first came"
WBC Korea's national infielder 'Shock Confession + Reversal'..."No one knew me when I first came"
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LA Dodgers utility fielder Tommy Edman is having a more special fall than ever.
Edman started as the fifth batter and center fielder in Game 2 of the 2024 MLB postseason against the New York Yankees at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California on the 27th (Korea time), contributing to his team's 4-2 victory by scoring two hits (one home run) and one RBI and one run from four times at bat.
Edman's bat went strong from its first at-bat. Edman, who appeared as a leadoff hitter in the bottom of the second inning when the two teams were tied 0-0, hit a three-pitch fastball by Yankees starter Carlos Rodon with a ball count of two and hit a preemptive solo shot over the left fence. It was his first time in five days since the National League Division Series (NLDS, best-of-seven) against the New York Mets on the 21st.
This was not the end of his game. Edman had a double off Rodon with two outs in the bottom of the third inning when the Dodgers was leading 4-1. Despite being overwhelmed by the ball count of two strikes, Edman maintained his concentration, and hit three pitches to lead to long balls. At bat, he even stole third base. It was Edman's fourth steal of the postseason this year.
Although Edman struck out with one out in the bottom of the fifth inning and grounded out to a pitcher in the bottom of the eighth inning, he took comfort from his multi-hit performance. After Game 4 of the Championship Series, he continued his multi-hit streak in five consecutive postseason games.
The record is also set. According to Sarah Reims, a record expert on MLB.com , Edman is the second player who played shortstop and center fielder in the postseason to hit home runs. The player who posted the first record in this category is teammate Chris Taylor.
Edman, who met reporters after the game, said, "I try to get closer to perfection even though the swing is not perfect. It was really special and my dream to be able to realize it on this stage."
He also mentioned Yamamoto Yoshinobu, the starting pitcher who helped his team win. "Yamamoto's pitching was really good today. I enjoyed watching his pitch," Edman said, adding, "It was impressive to block the opponent with one hit during six ⅓ innings. He is one of the best pitchers."
As for Shohei Ohtani, who complained of pain due to a dislocated left shoulder in the second half of the game, he said, "It's very unfortunate. He is the best player in the game. I don't know if there have been reports (about his physical condition), but I hope he recovers quickly."
Edman, who was drafted by the st. Louis Cardinals in the 2016 draft, made his big league debut in 2019. In 2020, he made his name known to many Korean fans by sharing a meal with Kim Kwang-hyun (now SSG Landers).
Edman, who has shown progress over the years, posted a batting average of 0.262 with 11 homers and 56 RBIs in 641 at-bats in 159 games in 2021, his first full-time season in the big league. In particular, he won the Gold Glove National League 2nd baseman's award by showing stellar performance in defense.
Last year, he joined the Korean national team at the World Baseball Classic, drawing keen attention. He was born to Kwak Kyung-ah, a mother of immigrants from Korea, and John Edman, an American father. Although he is a U.S. national, he participated in the competition as a member of the Korean national team according to the WBC regulations, which allows him to choose his or her parents' nationality. 토토사이트
As the national team was eliminated in the first round, Edman returned to his team, but he expressed his desire to wear the national flag again in future international competitions.