MLB.COM, the official website of the U.S. Major League Baseball, praised Kim Ha-sung as “a net free agent (FA) who can perform better than expected.”
MLB.COM said on the 18th (Korea Standard Time), “It is not classified as a big fish in the FA market, but there is an FA that can expect high productivity. We do not receive a qualifying offer (QO) from the original fastball team, so we do not lose the right to nominate a rookie player when recruiting,” highlighting “quasi-class FA” Kim Ha-sung, Shane Bieber, Walker Buehler, Tyler O’Neill and Gleyber Torres.
First, MLB.COM pointed out two factors that could make Kim Ha-sung undervalued in the FA market.
“Kim Ha-sung injured his shoulder in August and went through surgery after missing the rest of the season. He will not be able to play in the opening game of the 2025 season,” MLB.COM said. “Kim Ha-sung only had a batting average of 0.242 and a slugging percentage of 0.380, during the four MLB seasons. He has weaknesses in hitting by traditional standards.”
Kim Ha-sung was placed on the operating table in October after injuring his shoulder during a game against the Colorado Rockies on Aug. 19. He is rehabilitating with the goal of returning in late April or early May next year.
He has not received a high score in slugging power to the extent that he has never exceeded 20 home runs in a season.
However, 토토사이트.COM introduced Kim Ha-sung’s ability to hit double-digit home runs in the season, saying, “Although Kim Ha-sung does not show off his excellent slugging power like Pete Alonso, he played an excellent defense in premium positions. He is good at running base and has the ability to make contact with Sun Do-an,” adding, “He also has the right power to hit double-digit home runs in the season.”
In addition, “Kim Ha-sung is not far behind Juan Soto in the contribution of victory (WAR) against the substitute players of the 2022-2023 Baseball League,” he said, stressing that Kim Ha-sung is a “solid player.”
Soto, which is considered the biggest fish in the FA market, shot the Baseball League WAR 11 between 2022-2023. During this period, Kim Ha-sung’s WAR was 10.7.
MLB.COM analyzed, “Due to the shoulder injury, it will be difficult for Kim Ha-sung to sign a larger contract than Willy Adames, the ‘biggest fish in the shortstop FA’, but if Kim Ha-sung recovers his health, he can perform at a similar level to Adames.”