Wiz manager demands more from star slugger with team trailing in Korean Series

Daegu, November 7 - Before taking to the mound for pre-game batting practice, KT Wiz outfielder Sam Hilliard uses rubber balls tossed by a coach. This practice isn't merely for amusement; it's a crucial part of Hilliard's routine. He initiated this method during his U.S. minor league days a few years back. However, he abandoned this practice but resumed it earlier this year at the recommendation of hitting coach Kim Kang, as he was attempting to break out of a slump during his first season in the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO).

Hilliard's statistics reflect this shift; he recorded a .232 batting average at the end of April, the lowest among all qualified foreign hitters at the time. Yet, he experienced a resurgence, hitting eight home runs and achieving a .350 batting average in 25 games. Since then, he has been performing impressively. In the KBO, Hilliard led with 139 RBIs and ranked second with 44 home runs.

He has been exceptional in the Korean Series against the Samsung Lions, batting .583 (7-for-12) with three doubles and three RBIs in three games. Hilliard scores more hits in this series than all other Lions players combined. In an interview with Yonhap News Agency before Game 2 in Daegu, Hilliard explained how rubber ball practice aids him in making solid contact during real games.

He explained that missing a rubber ball results in it rolling off the bat and falling, rather than traveling forward. This indicates the need for precise contact to achieve a line drive. Furthermore, the way Hilliard swings after connecting with the ball is also vital. If his swing doesn't continue towards the pitcher or the intended hitting direction, he won't make proper contact with the ball, leading to an off-course trajectory.

This practice is evidently paying off for Hilliard. He scored three hits in the Korean Series opener, two more in the following day, and hit a double off the top of the center field fence on Friday, which scored the Wiz's sole run in their 5-1 defeat. Despite an end-of-season pitching strategy change from the KBO, Hilliard remains adaptable.

He is the first foreign player to win the Player of the Month award twice in the same season since the KBO began issuing these honors in 2010. Hilliard believes the pitchers are not flawless, so he remains ready to capitalize on their mistakes.