When Byung-Hyun Kim takes the mound, he often gazes skyward before he pitches. It’s as if he’s searching for something.
Rockies pitching coach Bob Apodaca says Kim is finally reaping the benefits of a tough, season-long search.
“Psychologists say that when a man looks up like that, he’s visualizing, he’s imagining,” Apodaca said. “I think B.K. has spent a lot of this season trying to visualize and trying to recapture his form of old. He has changed as a pitcher and discovered how to be a smarter pitcher.”
The transformation was evident Saturday night in Colorado’s 11-1 win over the Dodgers.
Able to keep the ball low in the strike zone, Kim allowed just one run on five hits in six innings. He was pulled because manager Clint Hurdle wanted to give his bullpen some work.
Saturday’s performance gave Kim his second straight victory, and he improved to 5-10. In his past three starts, the 26-year-old from Gwangju, South Korea, is 2-0 with an 0.92 ERA. Against the Dodgers, Kim has been superb, posting a 1-1 record with a 1.86 ERA in five games (three starts). Kim, however, insists he’s more than just a Dodgers killer.
“I think I am getting better. I’m a better pitcher again,” he said. “I’m hitting good spots.”
With Arizona in 2002, his finest season in the majors, Kim’s weapon of choice was a 94 mph fastball. That heat, combined with his side-armed delivery, made Kim menacing, especially to right-handed hitters. Kim made the National League all-star team, appeared in 72 games, had an 8-3 record, earned 36 saves and compiled a 2.04 ERA.
The former reliever is now part of the Rockies’ starting rotation. Big things are expected from him next season. Those expectations grew over the past two games.
“He may never get that 93 or 94 mph fastball again, but he is much more consistently in the upper 80s and occasionally 90-91,” Apodaca said. “You are starting to see that now, where as earlier in the season you never saw that.”
Kim’s performance Saturday night left a long-lasting smile on Apodaca’s face.
“That’s exactly what we’ve been waiting to see,” he said. “It’s been kind of a labor of love. We’ve worked really hard identifying what he needs to improve on. That means pitching lower in the strike zone.”
Kim lately has been throwing a two-seam fastball that gives him more movement. He also is gaining confidence in a circle change that gives him a decent offspeed pitch.
“I think what’s happened is that in searching for his velocity, B.K. has widened what he can do as a pitcher,” Apodaca said. “I think that’s made him much more competitive against left-handed hitters.”
Kim is scheduled to pitch Friday at Coors Field against Arizona. The Rockies are eager to see if he can take another step forward.
“B.K. has provided stability to our staff,” Hurdle said. “He has shown up here and he hasn’t backed down from the challenge this ballpark presents.”
The other Kim
Sunny Kim is the other half of the Rockies’ Korean connection. The 28-year-old from Inchon, South Korea, was claimed off waivers last month from Washington. The Rockies originally projected him as a mid-inning reliever, but he has shown enough as a starter to spark Hurdle’s interest for next year.
He earned the victory Friday night as the Rockies defeated the Dodgers 11-3. He pitched 5 1/3 innings and allowed one run on six hits. He managed to win without the benefit of an effective fastball.
“We are trying to focus on whether Sunny Kim can answer the bell to be in the starting rotation,” Hurdle said. “I think he profiles well here at Coors. He has four pitches, and he hasn’t used his curveball yet.”
September Rockies
First baseman Ryan Shealy and right-handed relief pitcher Ryan Speier were called up from Triple-A Colorado Springs on Monday as the Sky Sox season came to an end. Shealy appeared in 108 games with the Sky Sox, hitting .328 with 26 homers and 88 RBIs. Speier appeared in 44 games, compiling a 2-2 record and a 5.03 ERA.
Also rejoining the Rockies is outfielder Larry Bigbie, who is coming back from the disabled list (injured Achilles).
Patrick Saunders can be reached at 303-820-5459 or psaunders@denverpost.com.
