Will Kim Ha-sung be written on the SD line-up card of 'February 22, 2025'? Announcement of the confirmation of ML exhibition games
Aug 16, 2024
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According to this, the official opening game of the exhibition game is the match between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs in the Cactus League on February 21. The two teams will face off at Glendale Camelback Ranch in Arizona, the home of the Dodgers.
On the 22nd, the Grafffruit League will also start. It is a showdown between the New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays. On the same day, the San Diego Padres will play their first exhibition game. The opponent is the Seattle Mariners, and the venue of the game is Peoria Stadium.
A day later, on the 23rd, the San Francisco Giants will start an exhibition game with an away game against the Texas Rangers. It is expected that Lee Jung-hoo will return healthy and be included in the lineup.
The biggest concern is Kim Ha-sung's future. Attention is focusing on whether he will wear a San Diego uniform and open spring training next year.
When Kim Ha-sung finishes this season, he can enter the FA market. Kim Ha-sung signed a four-year, $28 million contract with San Diego in December 2020, placing a mutual option on $8 million in 2025. If Kim Ha-sung wants it, but San Diego refuses, he will receive a $2 million buyout and become an FA, but if Kim Ha-sung does not want it, he can go to the market as it is. The possibility of an electron taking place is very slim.
Except for 2021, Kim Ha-sung has been playing full-time for three consecutive years this year. He has become the top infielder by looking at shortstop, second baseman, and third baseman, which can be said to be the core of defense. Last year, he won the Gold Glove in the National League (NL) utility category.
On top of that, he marked OPS+107 with a batting average of 0.260 last year, 17 homers, and 38 steals, and his offense power also excelled above the league average. Although he is slowing down at bat this season, he is expected to be guaranteed more than a certain level of ransom given that he is playing full-time healthily.
In the 'Preliminary FA Top 50 Rankings' section posted by local media The Athletic columnist Jim Borden on the 13th, Kim Ha-sung ranked 21st overall and 6th in the infield. Boden posted a career high last year with a 0.351 on-base percentage, 23 doubles, 17 home runs, 60 RBIs and 38 steals. This year, Mike Shildt took over and moved to shortstop to meet expectations. 'The offense is still not bad, but it is not as bad as last year. 'Looks likely to reject the mutual option next year' he wrote.
The fact that his offense is good means that his batting average is 0.230 and his OPS is 0.700. As of this day, Kim Ha-sung has a batting average of 0.228 and an OPS of 0.685.
It remains to be seen during the offseason whether Kim Ha-sung will appear at Peoria Stadium on February 22 next year in a San Diego uniform or start a new career in an unfamiliar place. Currently, the demand for shortstop is high in the FA market, and San Diego has abundant shortstop resources, which is highly likely to transfer.
jhno@sportschosun.com
