Crazy Kim Ha-sung's position was this good, my junior was willing to give me his number...TB will be the highest 7 times ever
Feb 05, 2025
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Kim Ha-sung (30), who has newly joined hands with Tampa Bay, already has a great position in the team. Tampa Bay officially announced its FA contract with Kim Ha-sung on the 4th (Korea time). The two-year total of $29 million (about 42.3 billion won) and the option of $2 million (about 2.9 billion won) are at stake this year. The option is known to depend on Kim Ha-sung's number of at-bats. If he shakes off his shoulder injury and returns to the ground around May and continues his performance until the end of the season, he can receive $15 million by adding an option of $2 million to his annual salary of $13 million this year. In 2026, the annual salary is $16 million. If Kim Ha-sung does not exercise the opt-out after this season, he can receive up to 31 million dollars (about 45.2 billion won) for two years.
Tampa Bay proved its sincerity toward Kim Ha-sung with the scale of the contract. As it is a small market team, it promised the best the club can do even if it is difficult to make a huge investment. The total contract amount of $29 million, excluding options, is the fifth largest in Tampa Bay's history, and the largest since Greg Vaughan, who signed a four-year, $34 million (about 49.5 billion won) contract with Tampa Bay in December 1999. In addition, Kim Ha-sung quickly became the team's highest salary this year with this contract.
While transferring to a new team, Kim Ha-sung wanted to use his attachment number 7, but his original owner Jose Caballero (29) was willing to hand it over. Caballero is in his third year in the big league this year as an infield utility. Caballero will give up his number to Kim Ha-sung, who joined after signing a large contract based on Tampa Bay, and fix it to 77 this year.
At a video press conference on the 4th when he joined Tampa Bay, Kim Ha-sung said, `I have worn seven times throughout my career since Korea. This number means a lot to me. I think it's the best number for me," he said, expressing his joy of defending No. 7.
The U.S. media 'Sports Illustrated' on the 5th 'For the first time in Tampa Bay's history, a player will engrave his number 77 on his uniform. Infielder Caballero replaces his jersey number from 7 to 77. This is to give Kim Ha-sung, who officially signed a contract with Tampa Bay on the 4th, his number 7. Kim Ha-sung explained that he played seven times in all four years he played for the San Diego Padres, and he also wore seven times when he played for the Kiwoom Heroes in the KBO League.
Caballero wore number 76 when he made his big league debut with the Seattle Mariners in 2023. When he was traded to Tampa Bay last winter, he used his number 7, but when he handed over his number to Kim Ha-sung, he put on a different number throughout the three years he played in the big league.
Sports Illustrated was previously worn by Vidal Bruhan from 2021 to 2023 by 'Cabayero. Michael Perez, Logan Morrison, Daniel Nava, David Dehesus and Jeff Kepinger used the number 7 for Tampa Bay. 'No owner of this number in Tampa Bay prior to Kefinger's choice of No. 7 in 2012'
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If it was Kim Ha-sung, I was sure he would write a new history of Tampa Bay No. 7. Kim Ha-sung is classified as the highest in the Major League in defense, including shortstop, second baseman, and third baseman. In 2023, he won the Gold Glove for the first time in Asian infielder history and was properly recognized. He has good main strength enough to record 78 steals in the big league, and has on-base ability and one-shot slugging ability. His overall performance in the four big league seasons is 540 games, a batting average of 0.242 (418 hits in 1725 at-bats), a on-base percentage of 0.326, 47 homers, and 200 RBIs.
In a video press conference shortly after the announcement of the contract with Kim Ha-sung, President of the Tampa Bay Baseball Team Eric Nieder said, `Kim Ha-sung has tremendous talent, and he is a very interesting player to watch the play. He proved this with great popularity in San Diego. Anyone who has watched Kim Ha-sung, who has played for San Diego over the past few years, will have identified the incredible talent that has contributed to the team's victory in various ways. Kim Ha-sung cannot be with us on the opening day, but I hope it won't take long for Kim Ha-sung to enjoy it with us, and ideally we hope we can start the season well, get a chance to advance to the postseason, and get more than that."
Sports Illustrated will miss Kim Ha-sung for about a month early this season in the aftermath of his recovery from right shoulder surgery, but it will not take long for him to become the No. 1 player in Tampa Bay's history. If Kim Ha-sung does not apply for an opt-out and remains at Tampa Bay in 2026, there was no doubt that he would definitely establish himself as the best No. 7 in the club's history.
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This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
