He is close to becoming the first Asian player to achieve such a record. Ha-seong Kim, who overcame the limitations that everyone said would be difficult, completed his third season in the big league, deserving applause.메이저사이트
Ha-seong Kim started as second baseman in the final game of the regular season against the Chicago White Sox of the ‘2023 Major League Baseball League’ held at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, Illinois, USA on the 2nd (Korean time). As a result, Ha-seong Kim’s final performance this season is 152 games batting average
. He finished his third season in the big leagues with a record of .266 (140 hits in 538 at-bats), 17 home runs, 60 RBIs, 84 runs, 38 steals, and an OPS of .749.
Ha-Seong Kim was recognized in the major leagues for his defensive skills by becoming one of the three finalists for the National League Gold Glove award for shortstop last year. As Xander Bogaerts, who signed an 11-year, $280 million contract in the offseason and joined San Diego, insisted on playing shortstop, Ha-seong Kim moved to second base and started this season. This is his third season in the big leagues, moving from utility player to shortstop and then to second baseman.
At the beginning of Ha-seong Kim’s season, his defense was no different from previous years. For a player who showed top-class shortstop defense in the major leagues, second base defense was not difficult, and he still showed top-class defense. He said he made some progress at the plate last year, but he still had some regrets. In March and April after the opening, the batting average was only .209, 2 home runs, and 6 RBIs.
However, he began to show his presence at the plate as well. In particular, this year’s revised speed-up rule encouraged stolen base attempts and amplified Kim Ha-seong’s value. Ha-Seong Kim played actively in the field and survived with a high probability. He not only stole bases, but also showed off his skills with active base running, going one base higher on bases. He has established himself as a player who is loved by fans by not compromising on base running or defense. His uniform was always covered in dirt, and his helmet and sunglasses were lying on the ground. Ha-seong Kim’s hustle play captured the hearts of San Diego fans.
Then, the change in batting form prepared during the off-season began to gradually become familiar to him, and his batting began to heat up in June. He played well in June with a batting average of .291 (25 hits in 86 at-bats), 4 home runs, 12 RBIs, 4 stolen bases, and an OPS of .844, and in July, he dominated the major leagues by storming to the point where he could easily be called the best player on the team. Although he was not selected as an All-Star, Ha-seong Kim’s performance was dazzling enough to cause controversy. In July, he recorded a batting average of .337 (30 hits in 89 at-bats), 5 home runs, 9 RBIs, 8 stolen bases, and an OPS of .999. Among big-money superstars such as Manny Machado, Xander Bogaerts, Juan Soto, and Fernando Tatis Jr., Ha-Sung Kim actually stood out.
Last August, he was named as a San Diego representative among the 30 candidates for the ‘2023 Heart and Hustle Award’ selected by the Major League Baseball Retired Players Association (MLBPAA). He does not only consider records, but this award is given to players who put their heart and soul into the game and are passionate about it. The final selection among the 30 candidates will be announced in November, but the fact that Kim Ha-seong was named as the club’s representative player also meant that outsiders recognized his play and considered him a superstar representing San Diego.
At one time, he was highly praised as an MVP-level player, ranking high in contribution to victory compared to replacement players along with Shohei Ohtani (LA Angels), Ronald Acuña Jr. (Atlanta), and Mookie Betts (LA Dodgers). The baseball magazine ‘Baseball America’ conducted a Major League survey targeting club managers, scouts, and high-ranking officials. He was also selected as the second baseman with the best defense in the top talent survey.
His presence at the plate still shined. Although it fell compared to July, the momentum continued in August. He broke Choo Shin-soo’s record for the most stolen bases in a season by a Korean major leaguer, and continued his momentum, heading toward a new era of 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases, and becoming the first Asian player to hit 20 home runs and 40 stolen bases.
However, his stamina was depleted as he played in physically demanding lineups and positions such as leadoff and second base. He also occasionally played shortstop and third base, filling in for other starting players. He ran so much that he was called overworked. His condition was bound to plummet. Additionally, I had to take a short break from mid-September due to abdominal pain. Ultimately, he failed to add a home run, ending with 17 home runs on August 22. The pace of adding stolen bases also slowed down, remaining at 38 home runs. His record of becoming the first Asian big leaguer to hit 20 home runs and steal 40 bases was ultimately undone.
However, Ha-Seong Kim recorded career highs in most indicators. More than anything, he gave San Diego hope during this season, which went through ups and downs and seemed hopeless. Ha-seong Kim was a hero who thrilled fans with his unrivaled energy level, and had a season worthy of praise and applause.
In Ha-seong Kim’s third year as a brilliant big leaguer, he has emerged as a superstar player by overcoming the prejudices and limitations of Asian infielders. Although it failed to achieve a record, it had a finale that wouldn’t be strange to say was brilliant. \