Kim Ha-seong (27, San Diego Padres) recalled, “I respect all Korean big leaguers and wanted to be like them.”
Now Ha-seong Kim has become a big leaguer that many Korean baseball prospects aspire to emulate.
On the 13th 메이저사이트(Korean time), MLB.com highlighted Ha-sung Kim’s recent performance, saying, “Ha-sung Kim, one of the most valuable players in San Diego, set a tie record for consecutive hits in Korean big leaguers.”
Ha-seong Kim played as second baseman in the 2023 American Professional Baseball Major League visit game against the Arizona Diamondbacks held at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona, USA on the 12th and hit 2 hits in 5 at-bats.
His hitting streak, which began on July 25 against the Pittsburgh Pirates, has increased to 16 games.
It is the same ‘Korean Big League Tying Record’ as the record achieved by Choo Shin-soo (now SSG Landers) from July 3 to 23, 2013 while playing for the Cincinnati Reds.
In an interview with MLB.com, Kim Ha-seong said, “I respect all the players who play in the major leagues.”
Kim Ha-seong, who started his professional life with Nexen Heroes (currently Kiwoom) in the Korean Professional Baseball KBO League in 2014, entered the big leagues in 2021 after establishing himself as “Korea’s best shortstop.”
The big leagues were a place that required patience.
Ha-seong Kim had a batting average of 0.235, an on-base percentage of 0.306, and a slugging percentage of 0.372 in 2021 and 2022.
MLB.com recalled the moment when it was necessary to wait, saying, “Ha-seong Kim, who was a sure starter in the KBO league, often watched the game from the bench in the big leagues.”
Kim Ha-seong was not disappointed.
“I believed in myself. I knew that if I worked hard day and night, I would eventually succeed,” he said.
This season, Kim Ha-seong recorded a batting average of 0.290, an on-base percentage of 0.384, a slugging percentage of 0.453, 15 homers and 27 stolen bases until the 12th.
MLB.com said, “Ha-sung Kim’s success factor is ‘Patience at bat. The rate of swinging the ball out of the strike zone was lowered from 24.9% last year to 19.3% this year, and the walk rate rose to 12.9%.” 16th) and on-base percentage (9th) were both among the top spots in the major leagues.”
He added, “Kim Ha-seong is 5th overall with +8 in OAA (Out Above Average) compared to second baseman average, and has succeeded in stealing 27 bases and is highly evaluated in the runners category.”
San Diego coach Bob Melvin praised Ha-seong Kim as “the most consistent player on our team.”
Praise pours in every day, but Kim Ha-seong is calm.
Ha – seong Kim said, “The streak of hits ends someday. I don’t dwell on this record.” He said, “I just want to help the team win every day.”