Kwang Hyun Kim Stats
- Height / Weight
- 6' 2" / 195 lbs.
- Date of Birth (Age)
- 7/22/1988 (35)
- Experience
- 2
- College
- None
Kwang Hyun Kim Season Stats
Last 10 Games
Kwang Hyun Kim News
Free-agent left-hander Kwang Hyun Kim signed a four-year deal worth $12.3 million with the SSG Landers of the Korean Baseball Organization on Monday. Kim will join fellow MLB arms Ivan Nova and Wilmer Font in the team's starting rotation after spending the last two seasons pitching for the St. Louis Cardinals. In 35 outings (28 starts) for the Cardinals over two seasons, the Korean native had a nice 2.97 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 104 strikeouts and 51 walks in 145 2/3 innings pitched. Kim went 7-7 last year with a 3.46 ERA and 1.28 WHIP in 27 games (21 starts) over 106 2/3 frames. With Major League Baseball still in a lockout, some free agents are choosing to play overseas and in Mexico.
Free-agent left-handed pitcher Kwang Hyun Kim appears to be close to returning to the Korean Baseball Organization as Major League Baseball remains in a lockout since early December, according to a source. Kim pitched in Korea for 12 seasons from 2007 to 2019 before joining the St. Louis Cardinals the last two years. In his two big-league seasons in the States, the 33-year-old southpaw has been very solid, sporting a 2.97 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 104 strikeouts and 51 walks in 145 2/3 innings over 35 total appearances (28 starts) for St. Louis. The SSG Landers have been looking into signing him this offseason.
The St. Louis Cardinals activated left-handed pitcher Kwang Hyun Kim (elbow) from the 10-day injured list on Sunday before their game against the Milwaukee Brewers. Kim has pitched to a 3.36 ERA, a 4.22 FIP, 70 strikeouts, and 31 walks in 91 innings spanning 19 starts this season . The 33-year-old will be pitching out of the bullpen instead of returning to the rotation. Kim has enjoyed a solid season as a starter, but if he stays in the bullpen and doesn't work in high-leverage situations, it'll be hard to roster him in most fantasy leagues.
Kwang Hyun Kim Stats
Last 10 Games
St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Kwang Hyun Kim's 2020 MLB debut was a resounding success. He finished the year with a 3-0 record, 1.62 ERA, 1.026 WHIP and a 24:12 K:BB ratio over 39 innings (seven starts). He did make all seven of those starts against the offensively challenged National League Central, though, so bear that in mind. Kim began the season as the Cards closer, securing one save before moving into the rotation following the team's COVID-19-related hiatus. He put up those numbers despite below-average movement, spin and velocity in his pitching arsenal. His four-seam fastball averaged just 89.9 mph and his curveball was in the ninth percentile in spin rate. His 15.6% strikeout rate ranked in the bottom 10% of the league as well. There was a disparity between his 1.62 ERA, 3.81 xERA and 3.88 FIP. The advanced stats, while still solid, are more in line with Kim's skill set. It wasn't all luck for Kim, though. He was above-average at limiting free passes (7.8% walk rate) and preventing hard contact. His barrel rate (4.2%) and hard-hit rate (31.4%) allowed were both in the 84th percentile, while his 50% ground-ball rate shows that he was able to induce a fair amount of weak contact. He's been sidelined from Grapefruit League play since March 13 while dealing with some back tightness. He registered a 21.00 ERA over three innings prior to the injury so perhaps that had something to do with the poor performance. Kim is working his way back currently and should be ready to begin the season in the Cards rotation. He lacks strikeout upside but he does have solid command and should serve as a capable back-end starter for St. Louis. At his 292 ADP, which is down from the 260s before the back issue popped up, he makes for a serviceable back-end fantasy starter.