Kim Ha-sung (San Diego Padres), who spent his third year in the Major League (MLB), picked Kim Hye-sung (Kium Heroes), his teammate and junior, as an infield candidate who could come to MLB when he played in the KBO League.
Kim Ha-sung held an official press conference on winning the Gold Glove at Versailles Hall on the third floor of the Rivera Hotel in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul on the 20th. He also talked about Kim Hye-sung while mentioning Lee Jung-hoo, who is aiming to enter MLB through posting.
Kim Hye-sung can qualify for overseas expansion at the end of the 2024 season. "It's my personal opinion, but I think (Kim) Hye-sung is an infield candidate who can play in MLB," Kim Ha-sung said. "I also watched the 2023 APBC game where Hye-sung participated, and I felt that (Hye-sung) was a little different from players of his age."
Major League Baseball (MLB) San Diego Padres Padres Kim Ha-sung holds a photo time at the official press conference for the Golden Glove award at the Rivera Hotel in Gangnam-gu, Seoul on the morning of the 20th.
Kim Ha-sung said, "Hyesung usually contacts me often. I also often contact him first, and I know that Hyesung is interested in MLB, he said. "I hope there will be an opportunity to play in MLB." "If that happens, I think I'm a player who can do better than me," he added.
He also did not forget his advice to Lee Jung-hoo as a senior Major Leaguer and Ko Woo-seok (pitcher, LG Twins), who was asked to check his status with the MLB Secretariat. Kim Ha-sung said, "Young players should be good at baseball to open the way to MLB, but I think this is something that the player himself will take care of." The most important thing is communication as well. If a student player has a dream of a MLB challenge, studying English is really important. "Even if I don't go to MLB, I think it will help me in my life," he said.
He said, "Lee Jung-hoo and (Go) Woo-seok are very good players in the KBO league, so I don't think there are many shortcomings in terms of skills. But as far as I know, both players are not good at English. I think it'll be similar to me," he said and laughed. "It is true that it will be very easy to prepare for English," Kim Ha-sung said, stressing, "And it will not be easy if you advance to MLB, but I think you have to approach the players first."
Runners Kim Hye-sung (right) and Lee Jung-hoo are scoring and sharing their joy when Kim Woong-bin makes a timely two-run hit with no outs and runners on the second and third bases in the bottom of the fourth inning of the Kiwoom attack at the 2023 KBO League NC vs. Kiwoom at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on the afternoon of the 5th.
Then he talked about his experience. Kim Ha-sung said, "I told Jung-hoo that it doesn't mean much to put the right to reject minor leagues (in the contract clause) when signing a contract with an MLB team after posting," adding, "I was also worried because it was a contract with that clause and the first year of MLB was not good." At that time, I thought it would be a big deal if I went down to the minor leagues. But afterwards, I don't think there's any need for that, he said.
"Afterwards, if I go to MLB, I think I will sign a contract without receiving a small amount of money, so I think it is better to put an opt-out (meaning the authority to break the contract if there is agreement between the player and the club)," he added.
Kim Ha-sung's affection for his current team San Diego was also revealed. He will be eligible for free agency after the end of the 2024 season. As a result, rumors of trade related to this have been steadily emerging.
Kim Ha-sung said, "At first, I was stressed whenever I heard such reports or news, but now I don't care at all," adding, "I think that's what the other team is saying (trade) is saying because they need me." It's okay if any team has a lot of playing time. Still, San Diego is the best team for me," he smiled.
Game 5 of the Korean Series between the LG Twins and the KT Wiz of the 2023 KBO Postseason was held at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on the afternoon of the 13th. Lee Jung-hoo and Kim Ha-sung (right) are visiting the stadium to watch the game.
