grapplegraphics.com San Diego’s ‘Awesome Kim’ Kim Ha-seong (28), who plays in the Major League Baseball (MLB), expressed satisfaction with himself for having the best season, while also cheering on his junior Jeong-hoo Lee’s challenge to the Major League.
Kim Ha-seong, who finished the MLB 2023 season, returned to Korea with a bright face through Incheon International Airport on the 11th and said, “My goal was to grow more and achieve better results than last year, and personally, I think I achieved better results than last year.” I gave myself a passing grade for sending it.
Ha-seong Kim has become a key player for the team three years after entering the United States. He showed top defense throughout the league and showed remarkable growth in his hitting as well. He had the best season in various indicators, including batting average, home runs, and a new record for stolen bases for a Korean player. He recorded a batting average of 0.260, 17 home runs, and 38 stolen bases in 152 games, showing significant improvement compared to last year (150 games, 0.251 batting average, 11 home runs, 12 stolen bases).
He was praised by fans for his dedicated play, to the point where dropping his helmet while sprinting became his trademark.
Kim Ha-seong, who is attempting to become the first Asian infielder to win the Gold Glove Award, is nicknamed ‘Awesome Kim’, which means ‘awesome’ or ‘great’, symbolizing his performance in the United States.
Ha-seong Kim said, “I was remembered as a player who does his best in every game and makes a lot of hustle plays. “I think the fans like that part,” he said.
Kim Ha-seong also cheered for junior Lee Jeong-hoo, who announced that he will advance to the major league next year. Ha-seong Kim said, “Jung-hoo is good at batting, defense, and base running, so I don’t think he will fall behind even if he competes with foreign players.”
At the same time, he said, “(When I meet Lee Jung-hoo in Korea)먹튀검증, I plan to fully tell him what I feel,” and added, “MLB is not an easy place, but I expect him to do well.”
Ahead of the 2021 season, Ha-seong Kim entered the MLB after receiving high treatment from San Diego, worth $28 million (approximately KRW 37.55 billion) for 4 years and up to $39 million (KRW 52.3 billion) for 4+1 years.
Ha-seong Kim said that his advancement into the MLB was thanks to the Korean players who played in the MLB in the past, adding, “I think I benefited greatly from my seniors. “Jung-hoo should also feel a little grateful to me,” he said, laughing.
Ha-seong Kim now focuses on his personal training in Korea and prepares for the 2024 season. The 2024 season is especially important as Kim Ha-seong will qualify as a free agent (FA) after the end of next year’s season. His first game of the 2024 season begins with the opening two-game series between San Diego and the Los Angeles Dodgers in Seoul on March 20-21. The likely location is Gocheok Sky Dome, the home stadium of Kim Ha-seong’s former team, Kiwoom Heroes.
Ha-seong Kim said, “I think Korean fans will be very happy. “This is the first time an MLB game is being held in Korea, and it is a great honor,” he added. He also said, “I will do my best to listen to what my colleagues, including Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado, want from Korea.”