MLB.com “Kim Ha-sung will be included in the opening roster”
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(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Nam-jik Han = Kim Ha-seong (26, San Diego Padres)’s batting average in the US pro baseball major league demonstration is 10% (0.125, 32 at-bats, 4 hits).
However, San Diego coach Jace Tingler said, “Kim Ha-sung needs time to adjust at the plate,” and “There is no need to worry at all.”
MLB.com said on the 24th (Korean time) “Kim Ha-sung is sluggish at the plate, but there will be no problem entering the opening roster (26 people).” I am confident that I will adapt to the league as well.”
In an interview with local reporters such as MLB.com, coach Tingler said, “(Although Kim Ha-sung’s batting average is low), we are not at all embarrassed. “He needs time to adjust to the new league, and Ha-sung Kim is adjusting well,” he said.
Kim Ha-sung, who joined KBO League Heroes in 2014, entered the first-team stage in his first professional year, and when Kang Jung-ho advanced to the major leagues in 2015, he made a leap forward as a leading shortstop.
Ha-sung Kim played 7 seasons in the KBO league without injury, batting 0.294, 133 home runs, and 575 RBIs.
In 2020, he made a big success with a batting average of 0.306, 30 homers, 109 RBIs, and 23 steals.
San Diego highly valued’young infielder’ Kim Ha-sung. Ha-sung Kim signed a contract with San Diego for up to $39 million in 4+1 years.
MLB.com recalled, “Kim Ha-sung is a hitter with an OPS of 0.921 and 30 home runs in the KBO league last year.”
Coach Tingler said, “Kim Ha-sung faces a pitcher who throws a faster and more dynamic ball in the major leagues. It is spending the’time of adaptation’ experienced by all batters from abroad.” “In fact, we are satisfied with the appearance of Kim Ha-Sung. Yes. Ha-seong Kim has a very good defense. It only takes time to adjust at the plate,” he explained.
He recalled the case of Otani, saying, “Shohei Otani was also sluggish in the demonstration game in 2018. But in the regular season, it showed a different appearance.”
In fact, Otani struggled with a batting average of 0.125 (32 at bats and 4 hits) in the 2018 demonstration game, his first year in the US, but he played an active part in batting average of 0.285, 22 homers and 61 RBIs in the regular season. Otani, who also played an active role as a pitcher in 2018 and played a “two-ta”, won the rookie king.
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Director Tingler said, “Kim Ha-sung has excellent batting control with a pioneering eye. He is a batter who has strength and sophistication. He has gained a lot of experience in the KBO League.” He added, “We are confident in Kim Ha-sung’s success.”
First of all, it seems there is no need to worry about Kim Ha-sung entering the big league opening roster.
MLB.com analyzed that “Kim Ha-sung is likely to enter the opening roster. He can play all positions in the infield and will soon train for left field.”
There was also an’incident’ that further increased the possibility of Kim Ha-sung entering the opening roster.
On the 24th, San Diego shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. complained of shoulder pain in the 3rd inning at the demonstration game against the Cincinnati Reds at Peoria Stadium in Arizona, USA.
Ha-seong Kim, who either did not play in the game on this day or was scheduled to play for a while in the second half of the game, took the position of shortstop instead of Tatis Jr.
Ha-seong Kim also hit a double base against Chris Paddack in a simulation game before the match, hitting the central fence.
Even in the demonstration game against Cincinnati on the 24th, he made a hit (3 at-bats, 1 hit) in the last at-bat in the 8th inning.
When Tatis Jr. comes to the opening of the regular season (April 2, Korean time) with concerns about injury, the role of Ha-seong Kim, who played for a long time as shortstop, becomes more important.
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2021/03/24 08:14 sent