JUPITER, Fla. — The crowd of reporters and photographers, most of them Korean-based, that surrounded Kwang-Hyun “KK” Kim intensified Tuesday — if that’s possible — after the new Cardinals lefthander threw his first bullpen session. This came one day after he merely had played catch.
What caught the eye was how long Kim’s session was. With camp not officially opening until Wednesday for pitchers and catchers, Kim threw 50 pitches, most with a purpose, and far more than others who tossed, such as lefthander Brett Cecil, who was nearby.
Through an interpreter, the 31-year-old Kim explained, “In previous years, I’ve been throwing about 60 to 70 pitches because the first game of the exhibition game is about 60 to 70 pitches.