SEOUL, – With his former team the Arizona Diamondbacks headed to the World Series for the first time since he pitched in it 22 years ago, ex-South Korean pitcher Kim Byung-hyun has one particular player he wants to thank.
Diamondbacks reliever Ryan Thompson has said his sidearm delivery was inspired by Kim, who pitched for the Diamondbacks from 1999 to 2003 and again in 2007. Kim and the D-backs won the 2001 World Series when Thompson was 9 years old.
“I’ve read about his story in the media. I am really grateful that he remembers me to this day,” Kim told Yonhap News Agency in a phone conversation Wednesday. “I hope he pitches well in the World Series. Also, I know Arizona battled so hard to reach the World Series. I hope they capture the title.”
Kim was a central figure in the D-backs’ championship run against the New York Yankees in 2001 — not always for the right reasons. In what’s widely regarded as one of the most dramatic World Series in history, Kim served up a two-out, two-run home run to Tino Martinez that tied the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the ninth of Game 4. Derek Jeter then won the game for the Yankees with a solo shot off Kim in the 10th.
In Game 5, Kim gave up another two-out, game-tying home run in the bottom of the ninth, this time to Scott Brosius. The Yankees won the game in 12 innings.
However, the Diamondbacks got the last laugh, winning their first-ever title in Game 7 on a walkoff hit by Luis Gonzalez. Kim became the first Korean player to win a World Series title.
With Thompson thriving out of the bullpen — he pitched to a 1.59 ERA in four games in the National League Championship Series against the Philadelphia Phillies — the D-backs are going for their second title now.
Thompson, 31, told local media that he began applying Kim’s mechanics to his own delivery when he was at a baseball camp in high school.
“I needed to tell my dad, ‘Hey, I can be like Byung-hyun Kim,'” Thompson was quoted as saying on Arizona Sports.com. “We practiced it every day for like three months. All of a sudden, I went from sophomore year not being very good to junior year I was breaking records at my high school.”
Asked about his own memories of the 2001 season, Kim said with a laugh: “It was so long ago. But around this time every year, someone brings up that World Series.
“I still love the team,” Kim added. “I will be rooting for them. I hope they play well.”
The D-backs, after squeaking into the postseason as the third Wild Card team in the National League, will be up against the Texas Rangers. Game 1 starts at 8:03 p.m. (ET) Friday in Arlington, Texas, or at 9:03 a.m. Saturday (Seoul time).
Source: Yonhap News Agency