Byung-Hyun

Kim

The Boston Herald also cites Kim’s “questionable character,” but says the Sox are convinced the pitcher has made improvements on and off the field. Kim threw in the bullpen last night well before the gates opened and continued to open eyes with his pitches. “I don’t think we’ve given up on him,’' manager Terry Francona said. “I don’t think we’ve ruled out (calling him up).”

He allowed two runs on three hits and a walk in 2/3 of an inning in his first major league appearance in months. Kim left the mound to a chorus of boos. On the bright side, at least he didn’t make any obscene finger gestures to the crowd on his way out.

He had a positive throwing session in New York over the weekend and has demonstrated that he will be a better teammate going forward. Kim had been considered a loner and a player who did not follow organizational protocol in the past. Kim will likely be used in long releif.

Kim walked one and struck out six. “His arm strength and his stuff have started to return, but he’s not all the way back,” GM Theo Epstein said. Kim will pitch out of the Boston bullpen in September.

Still, Kim may be willing to go to Japan with some sort of contract extension involved in the deal. It’s likely that the Red Sox would also include another player -- Peter Gammons believes it would be Adam Hyzdu -- to get the Japanese team to take Kim’s salary. It’s too bad it’s come to this, as a healthy Kim is a very valuable pitcher.

Kim was hit in the ankle by a piece of Preston Wilson’s broken bat in the sixth inning and left the game with swelling. Kim has a very respectable 3.71 ERA and 1.18 whip, but finds himself 0-3.

Kim is still penciled in to start Saturday. However, the pain in the area has gotten worse even though the swelling as gone down. He’ll attempt a bullpen session Thursday before any decisions are made.

Kim will pitch two innings every three days for the foreseaable future. He is young enough and talented enough to bounce back, provided he is healthy. Let’s hope the Red Sox and Kim handle this situation correctly, and that he can return to Boston as the dominant pitcher he once was.

Kim, who is scheduled to pitch the first two innings of every third game for the near future, allowed three runs on three hits and two walks last night at Charlotte. He struck out one.

A Red Sox official told the Denver Port that Colorado is in the mix for Kim, but trailed other suitors, including the Mets.