Byung Hyun Kim, better known as BK Kim to major league fans, is coming to Korea to pitch for Nexen Heroes. In case you aren't a big fan of the major league baseball, BK Kim gained national notoriety while he was pitching for the Arizona Diamondback for blowing two world series games in 2001 by allowing homes to a couple of Yankees.
Standing at generous 5'9", he was one of the most diminutive figures in the majors yet threw regularly in mid 90's from his unique underhanded pitching motion. His sliders were described often as Nintendo slider or frisbee slider for its wild changes around the plate. Combined with his exceptional fastball, he was one of the most exciting pitchers to watch for a while.
After his world series tragedy, he had a few more seasons with Arizona after his world series trauma and moved onto Colorado and then Boston where he got into trouble by giving the home fans the 'finger'.
After battling injuries, he retired in 2007 at a still very young age of 28. He then returned to Korea and lived in anonymity and getting married.
Now at age 32, he is attempting a come back into his home country's big league with a perennial bottom feeding Nexen. As a big baseball fan (though not necessary of the Korean baseball league), the year 2012 is turning out to be intriguing one with two of the biggest big leaguers that Korea has every produced in BK and Chanho Park making their debut in Korea.
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Korea Blog - HiExpat.com |