'Defensive - Hit - It's all right! Quasi-Challenge Class' Kim He-Sung's rating is this much, a class like Propa-Theosca-Santandair...ESPN

Nov 13, 2024

Kim Hye-sung, who is about to post, is being evaluated as a quasi-class hitter by the U.S. media. Sports Chosun DB

Kim Hye-sung, who is aiming to advance to the Major League this offseason, received positive reviews from the local media.

On the 14th (Korea time), ESPN classified Kim Hye-sung as a 'stock-up hitters' category in a corner titled'Jeff Bankrupt Reporter's 2024-25 MLB Offseason Expected' and valued him as a 'quasi-class' player.

Kim Hye-sung, who hit .304 in eight seasons with the KBO, is an all-around game and is attractive to teams that are attracted to players who are in their heyday. He is 26 years old in next year's opening game and has a central infielder (second baseman with quite a lot of experience as a shortstop), steal ability (30 steals this year, 211 steals for eight years), a high batting average (four consecutive years at .300), and sometimes hit the ball hard (his career-best 11 home runs this year), so he can be seen as a popular midtier player.

If you look at the batters classified as quasi-class with Kim Hye-sung, you can gauge his value. Teoscar Hernandez, Anthony Santander, Christian Walker, Jurickson Profar, Tyler O'Neill, and Jak Pederson. All of them are the top hitters in the Major League and stand out in the power, accuracy, and clutch categories.

Kim Hye-sung is receiving positive reviews throughout the offense and defense industry. Sports Chosun DB

This is not the first time ESPN has looked at Kim Hye-sung hopefully. In the FA ranking section last week, Kim Hye-sung was ranked 39th, and he thought a three-year, $16.5 million contract was possible.

At the time, the media said 'Kim Hye-sung, who will turn 26 in January next year, showed excellent defense in the middle field as a left-handed hitter in the KBO. He lacks power, but he boasts a high contact rate and is a good runner who can do more than 20 steals in a season. Even if you don't evaluate the batting, there will be teams that see you as a low-end regular as a good utility infielder. 'It's not possible to get his Major League Baseball version with market information, so betting in his prime is a gamble for clubs to take.'"

Earlier, another leading media outlet, MLBTR, also placed Kim Hye-sung 26th in the Top 50 FA Prediction corner, predicting that a three-year, $24 million contract is possible. In particular, MLBTR drew attention by evaluating that a three-year contract is reasonable considering defense, contact ability, speed, and age, and that teams such as the Seattle Mariners, Pittsburgh Pirates, Kansas City Royals, Oakland Athletics, and Milwaukee Brewers, as well as the New York Yankees, San Diego Padres, Boston Red Sox, and Atlanta Braves, are in high demand.

jhno@sportschosun.com