I flew quietly without a departure interview. The most popular destination is Seattle?

Nov 30, 2024

Kiwoom Kim Hye-sung smiles at the 2024 KBO Awards held at Lotte Hotel World on the 26th. Jamsil = Reporter Heo Sang-wook wook@sportschosun.com /2024.11.26/

Kim Hye-sung's project to enter the Major League, who quietly boarded a flight to the U.S., will begin in earnest.

Under mutual agreement with the Kiwoom Heroes club, infielder Kim Hye-sung, who is about to post in the Major League after the end of the season, boarded a flight to the U.S. on the 29th (Korea time). Kim Hye-sung departed for LA at 2:30 p.m. on Korean Air flight KE017.

Kiwoom failed to inform Kim Hye-sung's agency (CAA) of wanting to leave the country in a calm atmosphere as he was about to apply for a posting. After arriving in LA, Kim Hye-sung prepares for posting by focusing on training at the training site prepared by her agency", he explained.

Kim Hye-sung's posting application date has not been confirmed yet. Kiwoom has prepared the necessary related documents and is discussing the posting application date with the agency. Kim Hye-sung's agency, CAA, is also famous for the Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani. When Ohtani became an FA a year ago, he signed a mega contract worth $700 million (about 930 billion won), the highest total in professional sports history, with his agent Nez Valero.

The Kiwoom-KIA match held at Kia Champions Field in Gwangju on the 6th. Kim Hye-sung, who met at cleaning time after the 5th inning, is encouraging Kim Do-young. Gwangju = Reporter Jeong Jae-geun cjg@sportschosun.com /2024.9.6/

Usually, overseas players conduct press conference-style round interviews at the airport, but Kim Hye-sung chose to leave the country quietly without a noisy interview as her destination has not been decided yet. Usually, in this case, they stay in the United States and train individually, and when their destination is confirmed, they return to Korea to prepare for personal maintenance and advancement to the Major League. Public appearances are also expected to be prepared after the contract.

Currently, the Major League FA market is very concentrated in Juan Soto. The prevailing prediction is that the total amount will be close to Ohtani's contract last year, and the destinations of other FA fielders are expected to be confirmed one after another depending on which team he signs. Kim Hye-sung can also be affected indirectly.

Kiwoom Kim Hye-sung, the second baseman's defense award, is speaking at the 2024 KBO Awards held at Lotte Hotel World on the 26th. Jamsil = Reporter Heo Sang-wook wook@sportschosun.com /2024.11.26/

The U.S. has also paid attention to Kim Hye-sung's moves. The Major League's official website 'MLB.com ' reported on Kim Hye-sung's application for going to the U.S. and posting on the 28th, saying, `Major League reporters such as John Morosi and Mark Paynesand see the Seattle Mariners as one of the clubs interested in Kim Hye-sung, and Kim Hye-sung is also the most suitable player for Seattle," he said.

Seattle has been plagued by a slump in second basemen all season. Therefore, Seattle is expected to be the most active in recruiting Kim Hye-sung. Another factor is that it is a Western team favored by Asian players.

Kiwoom Kim Hye-sung hits a game between Doosan and Kiwoom at Gocheok Sky Dome on the 10th. Kim Hye-sung achieved a record of 150 hits for four consecutive seasons with this hit. Gocheok = Reporter Heo Sang-wook wook@sportschosun.com /2024.09.10/

In addition to Seattle, the Boston Red Sox, the San Francisco Giants, and the Los Angeles Angels are mentioned as potential candidates. Some of these clubs are in the final stages of recruiting big fish FA players, including Soto, so negotiations with Kim Hye-sung are expected to accelerate in earnest after the contracts of big fish players are completed.

When Kim Hye-sung, who is challenging the Major League as a posting qualification, agrees with the club to start the posting process, the KBO Secretariat must request the MLB Secretariat to post the player. If the MLB Secretariat announces it, Kim Hye-sung can freely negotiate with 30 major league teams for 30 days.

youll@sportschosun.com

I flew quietly without a departure interview. The most popular destination is Seattle?

Sports