Boston.RedSox.MLB.com

By Ian Browne / MLB.com

Byung-Hyun Kim has a bit of an affinity for the Red Sox and Fenway Park. (John Miller/AP)

A nation watched as Kim -- just 22 years old at the time -- was consoled by classy veteran Mark Grace after Scott Brosius' blast in Game 5.

Kim will see plenty of Yankee Stadium now, as the Red Sox and Yankees play 19 times per season.

Believe it or not, this is a prospect Kim -- traded to Boston Thursday in exchange for infielder Shea Hillenbrand -- looks forward to. The Diamondbacks did go on to win that World Series in seven games, taking Kim off the hook. And the side-winding right-hander from South Korea learned a lot from the whole experience.

"I think it was a very good experience," Kim said through a translator. "At the time, it felt like I was in hell. Now if I look back, it was a good learning experience. Now I will feel like I'm in heaven. A lot of people remember me giving up homers in the (World Series), but that is in the past "

Kim made a home in Arizona, adapting to American culture and spending his first four years in the Major Leagues with the Diamondbacks. But he is excited about his move to the East Coast, and into the baseball hotbed known as Boston.

In fact, the 24-year-old Kim has a bit of an affinity for the Red Sox and Fenway Park.

"When I was in Korea, I liked the Red Sox and the uniforms," Kim said. "I used to wear the Red Sox cap all the time in Korea. Back in 1995, I threw in an international tournament in Fenway and it made a great impact in my memory. I really liked the Green Monster and also the tradition and history the stadium holds. I was very impressed with it."

The Red Sox were very impressed by Kim's array of pitches, which is why GM Theo Epstein began talks to acquire him as far back as December.

Kim was a reliever his first four seasons before moving into his preferred role of starting this season. With the Diamondbacks struggling to score runs, Kim went 1-5 with a 3.56 ERA in seven starts.

What is it about starting he prefers over bullpen duty?

"The reason (I like) being a starter is that when I was little, I used to watch Pedro (Martinez) and Randy Johnson start, they'd be the leader of the team," Kim said. "I watched them have a great impact. That stayed with me. That's why I like the starting rotation. But being a closer, I don't mind that."

Kim's first appearance in a Boston uniform will be as a starter Tuesday night at Pittsburgh. He will make that start in place of Martinez, who is on the disabled list with a strained muscle in his right side.

Once Martinez comes back, there's a good chance Kim will become the closer.

As a closer, Kim saved 36 games last season and posted a 2.04 ERA.

Ian Browne is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.