User:Kim Ha-seong highly praises Japan, “Best infield defense in MLB, good rival to Otani-Yamamoto”
Japanese baseball media "Full Count" paid attention to the remarks of San Diego Padres infielder Kim Ha-sung, who recently left for the U.S. to prepare for the 2024 season. He praised Kim Ha-sung as the best infield defensive player in the Major League and wished for a friendly competition with Japanese big leaguers.
"Full Count" said on the 21st, "Kim Ha-sung was asked about LA Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto as he left Korea for the U.S. on the 20th." Kim Ha-sung said, "I think I'm the same Major League player. I play equally. As I do it, I think I need to prepare to do well without much thought."
Kim Ha-sung has established himself as the team's main shortstop in the 2015 season after making his debut with the Kiwoom Heroes in the KBO League in the 2014 season. In 2016, he announced the emergence of a hot shortstop with 20 home runs and 20 steals, and in the 2017 season, he hit hard with a batting average of 0.302, 23 home runs, 114 RBIs and 16 steals, establishing himself as one of the best infielders not only in the team but also in the entire league.
Kim Ha-sung's growth did not stop. He hit .288 with 20 home runs and 84 RBIs in the 2018 season, and continued his non-stop performance with 0.307 with 19 home runs, 104 RBIs and 33 steals in the 2019 season. In the 2020 season, he showed off his dominance over the regular league with a batting average of 0.306, 30 home runs, 10 RBIs and 23 steals.
Kim Ha-sung, who crossed the Pacific ahead of the 2021 season, challenged the Major League stage through a posting system and signed a four-year contract worth $28 million (W37.6 billion) with the San Diego Padres.
Kim Ha-sung faced the high wall of American baseball in 2021, his Major League Baseball debut season. He received a below-expected report card with a batting average of 0.202 (54 hits in 267 at-bats), eight homers, 34 RBIs, and an OPS of 0.622, in 117 games.
Kim Ha-sung showed the best defense in the Major League in any infield position, including shortstop, second base, and third base, but his bat, which was considered his greatest strength, did not work.
However, Kim Ha-sung has greatly improved his offense by taking a leap as San Diego's main shortstop in the 2022 season, his second year in the big league. He recorded his first double-digit home run and stolen base in 150 games with a batting average of 211 (130 hits in 517 at-bats) with 11 homers, 51 RBIs and 12 stolen bases with an OPS of 0.708.
Kim Ha-sung faced a big change ahead of the 2023 season. When his team San Diego signed shortstop Xander Bogaerts to a mega $280 million (W348.7 billion) deal in the free agent market, he had to move his position to second base. Before the start of the regular season, there were many concerns that the team's position would be shaken as the possibility of a trade was constantly being raised.
However, Kim Ha-sung has surpassed his career high. In the 2023 season, he has emerged as the best second baseman in the Major League Baseball 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.
Recognized from his big league debut season, his watertight net defense has become more solid. He won the National League Gold Glove Utility Player Award, becoming the first Asian infielder to win the Major League Gold Glove.
Japanese media also acknowledge his performance. "Kim Ha-sung is entering his fourth year in the Major League this year. He made a big leap from last year's batting," "Kim Ha-sung's infield defense is one of the best in the Major League. I think he will be a good rival to Ohtani and Yamamoto in the 2023 National League Utilities category."
Kim Ha-sung's team, San Diego, ranked second in the NL West with 89-73 wins and 0.549 wins in the 2022 regular season, following the Los Angeles Dodgers (111-51 wins and 0.685 wins). He made it to the postseason by ranking second in the NL wild card.
Except for 2020, when the mini-season was held amid the COVID-19 pandemic, it is the first time in 16 years since 2006 that San Diego has advanced to the postseason after 162 regular league games.
