Ha-Seong Kim -- General News

The San Diego Padres signed Ha-seong Kim, a 25-year-old infielder from the KBO's Kiwoom Heroes, to a four-year, $25 million contract on December 29, 2020. The signing occurred during an aggressive offseason that included trades for pitchers Blake Snell and Yu Darvish. Kiwoom will receive a $5 million release fee from San Diego.

Kim ranked as FanGraphs' eighth-best free agent entering the offseason. In the KBO, he demonstrated exceptional production, posting a 140 wRC+ in each of the last two seasons with a .306/.397/.523 line, 30 home runs in his most recent year, and walks exceeding strikeouts. His baserunning was elite, accumulating 56 stolen bases in 62 attempts over two seasons (90% success rate). While Mel Rojas Jr. won the KBO MVP award, Kim is characterized as the league's brightest prospect.

Scout evaluations confirm Kim's impressive metrics. He demonstrates athleticism with plus speed, quick hands, and a plus throwing arm. At the plate, he displays mature judgment with above-average swing rates and contact rates despite operating in a league featuring deep counts. Most of his power pulls to the right side.

Kim's raw power is limited—his highest exit velocity last season was 105 mph, below MLB standards—but he projects doubles power through consistent hard contact on inside pitches. FanGraphs compares his power ceiling to Paul DeJong, though Kim should make significantly more contact and translate his KBO success to an immediate starting role in MLB.

Ha-Seong Kim, shortstop for the Kiwoom Heroes of the Korea Baseball Organization, has been posted for MLB teams, entering free agency with a 30-day signing window. The 25-year-old has been among the KBO's elite players for the past four seasons. In 2020, Kim batted .306/.397/.523 with 30 home runs across 138 games and went 23-for-25 on stolen base attempts. His career statistics show consistent excellence: 2017 (.302/.376/.513, 23 HR), 2018 (.288/.358/.474, 20 HR), 2019 (.307/.389/.491, 19 HR), and 2020 (.306/.397/.523, 30 HR). His production over the last two seasons has been approximately 40% better than the average KBO hitter. The ZiPS projection system estimates his 2020 season would translate to a .274/.345/.478 performance in MLB, which aligns with Dansby Swanson's actual 2020 line. While the free-agent middle infielder class is deep, Kim's youth and remaining prime years make him particularly attractive. He told Korean media in December 2019 that his decision to pursue MLB seemed finalized, though he expressed some uncertainty about whether he could succeed at the major league level.

The San Diego Padres signed 25-year-old Ha-Seong Kim to a four-year contract worth $33 million, making him the first Korean-born position player in franchise history. Kim, who stands 5-foot-9 and weighs 168 pounds, hit a career-high 30 home runs with 23 stolen bases and posted a .306/.397/.523 batting line in 2020 for Kiwoom in the Korean league, where he earned two Gold Glove awards as a shortstop.

While Kim played exclusively on the left side of the infield in Korea, the Padres view him as a versatile infielder capable of playing multiple positions. Competition exists at second base from Jake Cronenworth and reunited Jurickson Profar, but Padres GM A.J. Preller emphasized the deal as a long-term investment. The organization believes Kim has sufficient athleticism and arm strength to spell Fernando Tatis Jr. at shortstop and possesses adequate bat speed to handle major league velocity—challenges that have hindered other Korean position players attempting to establish themselves in the U.S.

The Padres have scouted Kim since his amateur days, noting his improved plate discipline; he walked more times than he struck out for the first time in 2020. Preller stated that "good players have a way of making adjustments" and expressed confidence Kim will continue improving as he accumulates major league experience. The signing accompanies the Padres' offseason rotation additions of Yu Darvish, Blake Snell, and Joe Musgrove, positioning the organization as a competitive force.

Ha-Seong Kim returned to action for the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night against the Chicago Cubs, marking his season debut after missing the entire campaign due to a finger tendon injury sustained while slipping in South Korea. The Korean infielder, who signed a one-year, $20 million contract in the offseason, went 0-for-3 with a walk in his return to Truist Park.

The Braves have maintained first place in the National League East despite being without several key contributors. Ronald Acuña Jr. has been sidelined since early May, while Kim had not appeared in any games prior to Tuesday. The team currently holds a nine-game lead over the second-place Philadelphia Phillies.

Front office executives will be looking for Kim to quickly regain his form after an extended absence. Last season with Atlanta, the former Gold Glove winner posted a .253/.316/.368 slash line. The Braves face the Cubs again on Wednesday night with first pitch scheduled for 7:15 p.m. EST.

Ha-Seong Kim returned to action for the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday, starting at shortstop in the opening game of a three-game series against the Chicago Cubs at Truist Park. Kim batted eighth in the lineup, marking his first appearance since September 28 of the previous season. His return comes after he underwent shoulder surgery and a rehabilitation period during the offseason.

The Braves have cycled through four different starting shortstops already in the 2026 season, making Kim's return to the position significant for lineup stability. Team management expressed enthusiasm about having Kim back in the lineup, with the player appearing ready to contribute following his recovery period. The exact duration and nature of his rehabilitation process had kept him sidelined through the early weeks of the season.