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넥센 김병현이 12일 부산 사직구장에서 열린 프로야구 롯데와 경기에서 4회 2사까지 3실점을 하고 강판되고 있다. (연합뉴스) |
프로야구 넥센 히어로즈의 투수 김병현이 자신이 심판을 향해 공을 던졌다는 의혹에 대해 부인했다.
김병현은 구단을 통해 “퇴장시키겠다는 심판의 말에 ‘예’라고 대답했을 뿐 심판을 향해 공을 던진 것을 인정한 것이 아니다”라면서 “심판을 노리고 공을 던지는 일은 절대 있을 수 없다고 말했다.
한국프로야구위원회 (KBO)는 13일 경기 중 상대편 더그아웃 쪽으로 공을 던지고 퇴장당한 김병현이 KBO 상벌 위원회에 회부되었다고 밝혔다. 김병현의 징계를 논하는 위원회는 14일 열릴 것으로 알려졌다.
12일 롯데 자이언츠와의 경기에서 선발 출장한 김병현은 4회말 강판당한 뒤 더그아웃으로 돌아가다가 상대편 더그아웃 쪽으로 공을 던졌다. 이 행동을 두고 문승훈 주심은 김병현이 주심 판정 불만으로 인한 불순한 행동을 했다고 판단, 퇴장 조치를 내렸다.
문 주심은 김병현에게 “심판을 향해 공을 던졌기 때문에 퇴장이다”이라고 설명했고 이에 김병현은 “예”라고 짧게 대답하고 라커룸으로 향했다.
김병현이 심판에게 위해를 가하려는 의도로 공을 던졌다고 판단되면 출장 정지 기간은 최대 30경기가 될 수 있다. (코리아헤럴드)
<관련 영문 기사>
Maverick pitcher denies intentionally throwing ball at umpire
By Yoon Min-sik
Nexen Heroes pitcher Kim Byung-hyun on Thursday denied allegations that he intentionally threw the ball at an umpire during a game.
“I just answered ‘yes’ to an umpire telling me he was ejecting me from the game, but I did not admit to throwing the ball at him,” Kim said via team officials. “Aiming and throwing a ball at an umpire is something that just cannot happen.”
During the fourth inning of Wednesday’s game against the Lotte Giants, Kim was taken out with the score tied at 3-3. As he walked toward his dugout, he chucked the ball in the direction of the opponent’s dugout where umpire Moon Seung-hoon was standing nearby.
Moon immediately ejected him and told the player that flinging the ball toward an umpire results in ejection, to which Kim answered, “Yes.”
The officials from the Korea Baseball Organization said that Kim will attend a disciplinary committee slated for Friday. If the committee rules that Kim intended to harm Moon, he can be suspended for up to 30 games.
The incident was the latest in a series of troubles that have tainted Kim’s career.
The 34-year-old pitcher, whose 15-year professional career spans over the U.S., Japan, and Korea, is well known for his sneaky sidearm and underarm pitches along with his brash behavior.
Dubbed “Nuclear Submarine” by Korean fans, his diverse pitching skills earned him career honors such as a Major League championship ring and an MLB all-star selection, but his occasional outbursts have also earned him a reputation as a troublemaker.
During his tenure at the Boston Red Sox, he gave the home fans the middle finger when they booed him. He later apologized for the incident.
In 2003, Kim was sued by a Korean photographer who said the pitcher assaulted him for taking pictures. Kim reached a settlement with the photographer the next year, after issuing an official apology to the photographer and fans.
(
minsikyoon@heraldcorp.com)
