MLB.COM, the official website of the U.S. Major League Baseball, once again appreciated the value of Kim Ha-sung (29), who dreams of becoming a “jackpot” in the stove league.
MLB.COM said on the 18th (Korea Standard Time), “There are players who are not classified as big fish in the FA market, but can expect high productivity,” adding, “These players did not receive a qualifying offer (QO) from their original team. We will not lose the right to nominate new players when recruiting,” referring to Kim Ha-sung, Shane Bieber, Walker Buehler, Tyler O’Neill and Gleyber Torres.
Kim Ha-sung, who was born in 1995, graduated from Yatapo and joined the KBO League Kiwoom Heroes in 2014 and started his professional career. By 2020, he has set a career record of 891 games, batting average of 0.294, 940 hits, 133 home runs, 575 RBIs and 134 steals in seven KBO seasons, before trying to advance to the Major League.
In particular, Kim Ha-sung flew with a batting average of 0.306, 30 homers, 23 steals, and 109 RBIs in the 2020 season, when he last played in the KBO league. He built the gold tower of 30 home runs in a single season as a shortstop for the third time in KBO history after Haitai (current KIA) Tigers Lee Jong-beom in 1997 and Kiwoom Kang Jung-ho in 2014.
Kim Ha-sung knocked on the door of the Major League through the posting system. He signed a four-year contract worth 28 million U.S. dollars with the San Diego Padres to achieve his big league dream by crossing the Pacific Ocean.
Kim Ha-sung received a report card with a batting average of 0.202 (54 hits in 267) with eight home runs and 34 RBIs with an OPS of 0.622 in 117 games in the 2021 season, the first year of the U.S. stage. He was recognized for his solid defense and fast-footed base play at any position in the field, including shortstop, second baseman and third baseman, but fell short of expectations in batting.
Kim quickly adapted to the level of the Major League. He has become the San Diego Padres’ main shortstop in the 2022 season. He excelled in batting average of 0.251 (130 hits in 517 times at bat) in 150 games, and posted an OPS of 0.708 with 11 homers, 51 RBIs, and 12 steals.
Kim Ha-sung has shifted his position from shortstop to second base in line with the club’s policy ahead of the 2023 season. The San Diego Padres underwent major changes when they signed shortstop Xander Bogaerts with an ultra-large contract worth 280 million U.S. dollars.
Kim started the regular league amid various concerns during the 2023 season, but rather broke his career high. He showed off his performance as one of the top infielders in the Major League with a batting average of 0.260 (140 hits in 538 at-bats), 17 homers, 60 RBIs, 38 steals, and an OPS of 0.749. When he won the National League Gold Glove Utility Player category, he even became the first Asian infielder to have the golden glove in the Major League.
Kim Ha-sung returned to his original position as shortstop for the 2024 season. Coach Bob Melvin, who took the helm of the San Diego Padres this year, rated Kim Ha-sung’s defense more highly than Bogartz.
Kim Ha-sung’s performance in the 2024 season is 0.233 (94 hits in 403 times at bat) in 121 games, 11 homers, 47 RBIs, 22 steals, and an OPS of 0.700. Although the batting average is low, he has above-average hitting ability, the league’s top infield defense, and base learning ability, so he is fully capable of seeking an FA jackpot contract.
Kim Ha-sung was confirmed to be out of the season due to shoulder surgery along with his absence for the rest of the season, but signed “super agent” Scott Boras and entrusted him with finding his bird’s nest.
MLB.COM pointed out, “Kim Ha-sung will not be able to play in the opening game of next year’s regular league after undergoing surgery after being out for the season due to a shoulder injury in August,” adding, “He has a weakness in hitting by traditional standards with a batting average of 0.242 and a slugging percentage of 0.380, in his four seasons in the Major 토토사이트 League.”
“Kim Ha-sung does not display superior slugging capability like Pete Alonso, but he played an excellent defense in a premium position,” he said. “He is good at base running and has good vision and contact skills. He also has the right power to hit double-digit home runs in a season.”
MLB.COM also explained that Kim Ha-sung is a player who is comparable to slugger Juan Soto, who is considered the biggest fish in the Major League FA market this year.
As a member of the Yankees’ uniform this year, Soto showed off his formidable offensives with a batting average of 0.288, 166 hits, 41 homers, 128 runs scored, 109 RBIs, and 0.988 in 157 games. His cumulative performance in the big leagues is also formidable. He has 201 homers, 934 hits, and 592 RBIs in total so far this year. He also played with Kim Ha-sung in the San Diego Padres until last year.
MLB.COM’s analysis also means that if Kim Ha-sung can reproduce the performance of the 2022 and 2023 seasons next season, he can play as one of the best shortstop teams in the Major League.
MLB.COM said, “(Based on Baseball Statistics Site) ‘Baseball Reference’, Kim Ha-sung (10.7) is not far behind Juan Soto (11) in the contribution to victory (WAR) against substitute players from 2022 to 2023,” adding, “It is difficult for Kim Ha-sung to win a contract on a larger scale than Willy Adames, who is considered the biggest shortstop FA due to his shoulder injury. However, if Kim Ha-sung recovers his health, he can show a similar level of performance to Adames.”
Adames showed off his powerful offense this year with 161 games, batting average of 0.251, 153 hits, 32 home runs, 93 runs, 112 RBIs, 21 steals, and OPS of 0.794. He is a shortstop who is superior to Kim Ha-sung in hitting with 24 home runs last year, 31 home runs in the 2022 season, and 25 home runs in the 2021 season.