Do you expect Kang Jung-ho's power from Pittsburgh and Kim Ha-sung? → Kim Ha-sung, you can find many opportunities in the Pirates infield
Dec 15, 2024
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The U.S. media 'Fanside' recommended three position players suitable for Pittsburgh on the 14th (Korea time) and mentioned Kim Ha-sung. The media mentioned Kim Ha-sung along with Max Kepler and J.D. Martinez. If Kim Ha-sung signs with Pittsburgh, he will be the second Korean shortstop after Kang Jung-ho. Kang Jung-ho played for Pittsburgh from 2015 to 2019 and hit 46 home runs in his career. He even earned the nickname "King Kang".
Fansaid 'Kim Ha-sung achieved career high in 2023. He had a batting average of 0.260 on-base percentage of 0.351 with a slugging percentage of 0.330 in wOBA and 110 in wRC+. Kim Ha-sung is a versatile infielder. He hit 17 home runs and 38 steals, his best since his Major League debut. He introduced that he recorded fWAR 4.2 during 626 at-bats.
Coincidentally, it was sluggish in 2024, when he became an FA.
Fansaid 'But 2024 wasn't so good for Kim Ha-sung. He put in an average performance. He had a batting average of 0.233 on-base percentage of 0.330 slugging percentage of 0.370 and a wOBA of 0.308 wRC+ 101. While injured, he played 470 at-bats in 121 games.
The media positively predicted that Kim Ha-sung only suffered ups and downs in 2024 and could rebound sufficiently.
The media reported 'Kim Ha-sung's basic figure did not drop significantly compared to 2023. Rather, the barrel batting ratio was the highest at 4.8%. The defense was still good. He's not just a shortstop. Kim Ha-sung won the Golden Glove as a utility player in 2023. He gave the defense a high score by saying that it covers the entire diamond.
The problem is injury.
Fansaid 'Kim Ha-sung had shoulder surgery last season. Due to this, business travel in 2025 may not be possible for the first few weeks of the season. However, the Pirates have enough infield depth to hold out until he returns, claiming that it is okay to recruit Kim Ha-sung.
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Kim Ha-sung was out for the season in August this year. On August 19, he injured his shoulder against the Colorado Rockies. First baseman Kim Ha-sung was injured while sliding back when checking the opposing pitcher.
Initially, it was not considered a major injury, but he eventually got on the operating table. The shoulder is a very important part of a baseball player. In particular, for shortstop Kim Ha-sung, the health of his shoulder is directly related to the ransom. Kim Ha-sung did not return to the postseason either.
Kim Ha-sung's agent Scott Boras claimed that Kim Ha-sung could return in April.
Sports media The Athletic ranked Kim Ha-sung 12th in the remaining FA market. He is third among the infielders and second without the first baseman. The Athletic set Kim Ha-sung's appropriate ransom at $36 million (about 50 billion won) for two years. MTR diagnosed it more passively at $12 million (about 17.2 billion won) per year.
dhhan@sportschosun.com
