[엑스포츠뉴스 여의도, 조은혜 기자] Kim Ha-sung, wearing a San Diego Padres uniform, is preparing for the major league debut season. Ha-sung Kim showed confidence that “if you didn’t believe me, you wouldn’t even challenge me.”
Kim Ha-seong held a press conference to advance into the major leagues at the Kensington Hotel Yeouido, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. Ha-sung Kim, who announced the news of entering the major leagues at the start of 2021, signed a contract with San Diego for a 4+1 year mutual option guarantee of $28 million for 4 years and a maximum of $32 million including options. After the end of the four-year contract period, the athlete can receive up to $39 million for five years when the mutual option is executed.
At a press conference, Kim Ha-seong said, “I thought it was cool looking at San Diego’s home stadium in pictures, but when I went and looked at it, it was cooler, and that’s why I felt it’s a major league.” “He revealed his impressions of advancement to the major leagues. Kim Ha-seong is scheduled to leave for the United States on the 11th and prepare to enter the big league stage in earnest. The following are questions and answers with Ha-seong Kim.
-When was the first time you thought you could go to the major leagues yourself?
▲I had a dream, but when I was an amateur, I was a player who was in a hurry to go to pro. I met a good club, and I met good coaches and coaches. And as (Kang) Jung-ho and (Park) Byung-ho, above me, advanced to the major leagues, coach Yeom Gyeong-yeop was told,’You should watch the major leagues and play baseball.’ It seems that 2019 was a season where I felt I had to advance to the major leagues. I think I was convinced then.
-Several teams would have bid for the posting, but San Diego is the most competitive infield team.
▲ To be honest, it took that part when signing a contract. My position was at shortstop, and in pro, I was both shortstop and third baseman. I had to change my position to second base and compete, but in the end I thought I had to do well. No matter which team you play, those players are also major league players. From my point of view, I wanted to play for a team with a better player base. I have always competed while being professional, and I was confident because I had such an adaptation period. I think there will definitely be a lot to learn if good players try to keep pace with the infield. I was still young, so I thought that all of them would be my experiences. If those things were anxious and didn’t believe me, I think I wouldn’t have even challenged the major leagues.
-During the negotiation process, the Toronto Blue Jays also expressed interest.
▲ It is difficult to talk about specific contracts, but it is true that Toronto also paid attention. It would have been really nice and comfortable if I had played with (Ryu) Hyunjin, but San Diego was the most active. I chose San Diego because I was sincere and continued to present the details as conditions that could give me more care. During the conversation, I was told that I plan to win the championship within a few years, and that I will have that power. In Korea, there is a thirst for winning that was unfortunate. I was also looking forward to the recruitment of good players, and I thought that the team I was going to was the championship power, and I thought how to do my best to help the team a little.
-Lee Jung-hoo posted on social media that ‘7 times have been added since my father’. What do you want to say to your Kiwoom Heroes colleagues?
▲ Jung-hoo is really my junior and younger brother. I see it often outside. I think Jeonghoo is actually a really great kid. He could have been covered in the shade of his father, but he made his name known as he has been doing well. It was over, but I am grateful. Kiwoom Heroes players are like family to me. I hope each of them achieves their desired grades and team grades this year. Even if I go to the United States, I will not be able to watch the game, but I think I will watch the highlights and the records of our players.
-In an interview in the US, he asked about the possibility of second baseman and outfielder.
▲ I had confidence in second base. When I was in high school, I saw second base, and when I was 20, I was backing up and learning steps. There are many players who change their positions from shortstop to second base, and they seem to have shown good looks. I thought positively, and I thought I could show more. I haven’t played in the outfield while playing baseball, so I can try it if the team is in a hurry and wants, but I think playing as an infielder will help the team rather than going out to the outfield.
-If you have any advice from major league seniors.
▲Hyunjin told me that he would be able to do well before he decided to advance, but he received a lot of advice and was told to take care of his body better than this. I can be lonely, I can miss Korea, and I have heard these words, but I think I have to deal with them. There are many people who help me next to me, so I think it would be okay if I was good at it.
-How long do you think you can play the main game only if you show a hitting grade?
▲If I was in Korea, I would be able to speak with confidence, but I can’t measure my grades, so I think I should hit the stage for my first challenge. I wonder how much I could do if I was guaranteed an opportunity.
-In a local interview, he said that he would aim to become a new king.
▲ As a sports player, it is natural to want to be ranked first. I was able to tell because the team also has such power. I said, but if I have a sense of goal, I can whip more in my own way, and I think I said that because of that. Some people think,’You’re confident’ or’You’re confident’, and’Are you?’ There may be question marks, but in the end, I have to compete on the stage of Major League. I will try to live hard.
-The part to prepare differently from KBO.
▲ I bulked up to achieve my goals in the major leagues. I am building my body with the mind of how to play the season as well as in Korea and how to do well without getting sick. I think he is in good condition. I see a lot of fast balls with machine balls, and I’m preparing for that.
-Have you ever thought of wanting to hit a pitcher’s ball?
▲ Hyunjin wants to hit the ball. When I joined, I already went to the major leagues and couldn’t play even when I was in Korea. I want to hit that ball because I have a really good ball when I watch it on TV. In fact, isn’t it a pitcher who is in the top ranks in the major leagues? Even if I can’t hit it, I want to see Hyunjin’s ball.
-He’s a good player, but what kind of skills do you think you need most?
▲ All three are confident in their own way, but I think confidence is the first. I haven’t even started, but I think it’s a game that you can’t win if you lose. All three have confidence. Still, if I choose to go to second base, I have confidence in the defense side because I can see all of them by playing shortstop and third base. I think that if I go to the beginning and adapt well to hitting, I think that it will be a good figure.
-If you’re running full time, what’s your expected home run?
▲If I get the opportunity, I think I can hit double digits. Running as the main game means that you have adapted well and that you have been recognized because of that. If everything goes out, I think I can hit a double-digit home run.
-The last thing I want to say.
▲I learned a lot while playing in the Korean league for 7 years. I am grateful for being loved by many fans. I was going to a new stage, and as a sports player, I knew how powerful and grateful the support of the fans was, but I learned a lot that the love of the fans was great when the Corona 19 broke out. I go to other places, but I hope that many people support me. At the same time, would it be a good role model for students and fans who play baseball or other sports if they do well? I’ll work hard, so I’ll be grateful if you watch and support me a lot.
[email protected] / Video = Yeouido, reporter Kim Han-jun, photo = courtesy of E-Land Museum