Professional baseball player Ruben Cardines of the Kiwoom Heroes hit an RBI single against his former team, the Samsung Lions.
Cardines, who joined Samsung last year as a replacement for David McKinnon, left the team due to injuries after not playing in many games. He recorded a batting average of .333 (8 hits in 24 at-bats), 2 home runs, 5 RBIs, 2 runs scored, and an OPS of 1.027 over 7 games. After leaving Samsung, Cardines signed a contract with Kiwoom under conditions worth $600,000 in aggregates.
Cardines started as the fourth right fielder in the regular season opener against Samsung at Daegu Samsung Lions Park on the 22nd. Ahead of the game, Cardines noted, "It's just the opening game, and it feels similar in any stadium. Still, the start of a new season is always exciting."
Cardines also said, "I feel good right now. I'm really happy to be able to play in the KBO again. I want to show the fans what kind of plays I can make throughout the season. I will show Kiwoom fans my best efforts on the field."
Cardines stepped to the plate in the first inning with one out and runners on first and second. The Samsung starter was Ariel Hurado, who played for Kiwoom until last year. After a full count, Cardines targeted the slider on the sixth pitch, hitting a single to left field. The runner on second, Yasiel Puig, advanced home from third. The score was 1-0.
Lee Taek-geun, a commentator for SBS Sports, who was covering the game, said, "Clearly, Kiwoom's 1, 2, 3, and 4 batters have destructive power. Cardines hit the fastball succinctly and well."
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