Kim signed Monday with the Korea Baseball Organization's SSG Landers on a four-year, $12.3 million contract, Jee-ho Yoo of the Yonhap News Agency reports.
After a two-year stint in the majors with the Cardinals, the 33-year-old Kim will return to his home country for what will presumably be the remainder of his playing career. Though Kim made good on the Cardinals' two-year, $8 million investment by submitting a 3.46 ERA across 145.2 innings, his advanced age and underwhelming peripheral numbers (9.1 K-BB%, 48.1 GB%) might have made it difficult for him to secure a significant commitment from an MLB team on the open market this offseason. Kim's shaky outlook along with MLB's ongoing lockout were likely motivating factors in him returning to the Landers, the team with whom he spent 13 seasons before making the jump to St. Louis.
Cardinals' Kwang Hyun Kim: Finishes strong as reliever
Rotowire
Kim wrapped up the regular season with three straight scoreless relief appearances spanning five innings.
The left-hander also picked up his seventh win of the season in the middle game of that sample, a Sept. 25 victory over the Cubs. Kim pitched exclusively out of the bullpen over his last five appearances, giving up four runs (two earned) over the 2.1 innings covering his first two relief outings in the sample before settling down in the final three. If the Cardinals are able to get past the Dodgers in Wednesday's NL Wild Card Game, Kim should have a strong chance of making it to the NLDS roster considering the considerable flexibility he offers manager Mike Shildt as a long reliever or spot starter.
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Cardinals' Kwang Hyun Kim: Grabs extra-innings save
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Kim picked up a save after giving up two unearned runs on one hit and one walk in Tuesday's win over the Mets.
The 33-year-old was called upon to protect a 7-4 lead in the bottom of the 11th inning after both Giovanny Gallegos and Alex Reyes had already pitched in the game. He gave up two runs -- partially due to an error he committed -- but converted the second save of his career. Kim was moved to the bullpen Sept. 7 and has since pitched 2.1 innings while surrendering four runs (two earned).
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Cardinals' Kwang Hyun Kim: Moving to bullpen
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Kim will be available out of the bullpen starting Tuesday, Zachary Silver of MLB.com reports.
Kim has struggled in his last five appearances, allowing 12 runs in 15 innings while striking out nine and walking seven. Jake Woodford will step into the rotation in his place.
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Cardinals' Kwang Hyun Kim: May be dropped from rotation
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Manager Mike Shildt wouldn't commit to Kim making his next turn through the St. Louis rotation in Thursday's game against the Dodgers, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. "We'll see," Shildt said, when asked if Kim or Jake Woodford would start Thursday.
According to Jones, the way in which Shildt spoke about the matter would seem to point to Woodford getting the starting nod Thursday. A rotation shakeup wouldn't be surprising, considering that Kim was expected to spend the final five weeks of the season in a relief role until Jack Flaherty's (shoulder) move back to the injured list forced the Cardinals to alter those plans. Though Kim turned in a decent showing Aug. 29 in Pittsburgh in his first start in place of Flaherty, the southpaw was lit up for four runs on seven hits and a walk over 1.2 innings in Saturday's loss to the Brewers. Meanwhile, Woodford shined in long relief behind Kim, striking out five over 5.1 shutout innings to potentially earn himself a look in the rotation in the process.
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Cardinals' Kwang Hyun Kim: Struggles in short start
Rotowire
Kim (6-7) allowed four earned runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out one across 1.1 innings, taking the loss to the Brewers on Saturday.
Kim allowed a solo home run to Luis Urias, who was the first batter of the game. It was downhill from there, as he allowed four total runs and failed to get through the second inning. The 32-year-old has a 3.53 ERA and 1.26 WHIP with 76 strikeouts in 99.1 innings this season. His next start is projected for Thursday against the Dodgers.
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Cardinals' Kwang Hyun Kim: No-decision Sunday
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Kim didn't factor into the decision Sunday against the Pirates after tossing four innings of one-run ball, giving up three hits and a walk while fanning three.
Kim hasn't allowed more than two runs in any of his previous three starts but hasn't pitched deep into the game in any of those contests either, as that has been an ongoing issue with the South Korean lefty in recent weeks -- he has tossed more than five innings just twice over his last six appearances since the All-Star break. He owns a 3.55 ERA, a 1.03 WHIP and a 16:9 K:BB through 25.1 innings in that stretch.
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Cardinals' Kwang Hyun Kim: May move back into rotation
Rotowire
Cardinals manager Mike Shildt said Kim could be a candidate to start Sunday's game in Pittsburgh after Jack Flaherty (shoulder) was placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
After Miles Mikolas (forearm) recently beat him back from the IL to fill the final opening in the rotation, Kim shifted to the bullpen upon being cleared to return from his bout with left elbow inflammation over the weekend. When Flaherty's strained shoulder forced him to exit Tuesday's loss to the Tigers after two innings, Kim was one of several relievers the Cardinals called upon to finish out the contest. Since he covered 2.2 innings and tossed 45 pitches in that outing, Kim should be reasonably stretched out if the Cardinals elect to give him the ball Sunday.
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Cardinals' Kwang Hyun Kim: Named Sunday's starter
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Kim will start Sunday's game against the Pirates, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Kim made a relief appearance Tuesday and allowed no hits and two walks while striking out two in 2.2 innings against the Tigers. He'll pitch on normal rest during Sunday's series finale in Pittsburgh after Jack Flaherty (shoulder) was placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday.
The Cardinals reinstated Kim (elbow) from the 10-day injured list Sunday. He's scheduled to work out of the bullpen moving forward, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
While working in a starting role prior to landing on the IL with elbow inflammation, the lefty went 6-6 with a 3.36 ERA and 1.22 WHIP in 91 innings. It will be interesting to see how Kim's velocity changes, if at all, as a reliever tasked with shorter outings. He'll presumably be available for spot starts as well, if necessary. Junior Fernandez was optioned to Triple-A Memphis in a corresponding move.
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Cardinals' Kwang Hyun Kim: Hit hard in rehab start
Rotowire
Kim (elbow) allowed two earned runs on a pair of solo home runs across two innings in a rehab start for Triple-A Memphis against Nashville on Thursday. He struck out two.
Kim threw 34 pitches overall, 22 of which found the strike zone. The left-hander's troubles with the long ball aside, it appears his recovering elbow held up well under a solid workload. Kim is likely due for at least another pair of rehab outings before activation is deemed appropriate, although he could return to the big-league club before he's fully built back up to a starter's workload.
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Cardinals' Kwang Hyun Kim: Slated to begin rehab assignment
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Kim (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Memphis on Thursday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Kim has been sidelined since Aug. 8 as he deals with left elbow inflammation, but he's expected to throw 35-40 pitches during his first rehab appearance Thursday. Manager Mike Shildt said that the team hopes to build the southpaw back up to a starter's workload before he's activated, but he could return before he's back to his full pitch count if the Cardinals encounter any more injuries within their pitching staff.
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Cardinals' Kwang Hyun Kim: Out more than 10 days
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Kim's elbow inflammation will sideline him for more than the minimum 10 days, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Kim will be eligible to return Aug. 18, but he's evidently not in the mix to do so. Tests cleared him of any structural damage in his elbow, but he'll still wind up missing more than one turn in the rotation.
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Cardinals' Kwang Hyun Kim: No structural damage
Rotowire
Kim (elbow) doesn't have anything structurally wrong with his left elbow, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.
Elbow issues are always a worry for any pitcher, but Kim's current issue doesn't appear particularly serious. He hit the injured list after recovering poorly from his latest start and doesn't have a clear return timeline, but it doesn't look as though he's in for an extended absence.
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Cardinals' Kwang Hyun Kim: Out with elbow inflammation
Rotowire
Kim was placed on the 10-day injured list Monday with left elbow inflammation. The move is retroactive to Aug. 8.
Kim received some extra days between his last two starts, and he'll land on the injured list after allowing two runs over four innings Saturday against the Royals. The severity of the injury remains unclear, though the left-hander will be eligible to be activated Aug. 18. Jack Flaherty (oblique) will fill the open rotation spot if he's activated from the injured list this week.
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Cardinals' Kwang Hyun Kim: Pitches four innings in no-decision
Rotowire
Kim allowed two earned runs on four hits and two walks while striking out three across four innings in the win over the Royals on Saturday. He did not factor into the decision.
Kim surrendered two two-out singles, allowing a pair of runs to cross in the fourth inning. He has been inconsistent over his last three starts after having three straight scoreless outings. The 32-year-old has a 3.36 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP over 91 innings. He is scheduled to receive another start against the Royals next weekend.
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Cardinals' Kwang Hyun Kim: Falters against Cleveland
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Kim (6-6) allowed five earned runs on five hits and one walk while striking out none across 2.2 innings to take the loss Wednesday against Cleveland.
Kim entered the game having completed at least six innings in each of his last four starts. He had also recorded a win in five consecutive outings. However, things didn't go as planned Wednesday as he served up four home runs in his shortest outing of the season. Despite the poor outing, he still has a solid 3.31 ERA with 67 strikeouts across 87 innings on the campaign.
Kim (6-5) earned the win over the Cubs on Thursday. He allowed two runs on two hits and a walk while striking out seven in six innings.
Thursday was the first time Kim had allowed multiple runs in an appearances since June 25, which was also the last start he didn't win. The southpaw has yielded just three runs in 30 innings during his five-start winning streak. The run of dominance has lowered his ERA to 2.88 with a 1.17 WHIP and 67:28 K:BB through 84.1 innings this year. Kim projects for a road start in Cleveland next week.
