“In the end, I think I have to do well to win the main competition.”
San Diego Padres infielder Kim Ha-seong (27) made up his mind to prepare for the new season in earnest as he departed from Incheon International Airport for the United States on the 27th. Kim Ha-seong plans to join the San Diego spring camp after undergoing individual training in Los Angeles, USA.
Ha-seong Kim unexpectedly stood at the center of the issue in San Diego this winter. This is because San Diego signed a large 11-year, $280 million (approximately 345.8 billion won) contract with shortstop free agent Dair Zander Bogatz (31). It is true that Kim Ha-seong is greatly behind Bogatz when simply comparing the ransom. The American media predicts that Bogatz will be the starting shortstop and Kim Ha-seong will be pushed to the second baseman.
However, Ha-seong Kim did not care. From the moment he first stepped into the major leagues in 2021, he has never been uncontested. San Diego was initially a team supported by a superstar shortstop named Fernando Tatis Jr. (24). Tatis Jr. signed a 14-year, $340 million contract with San Diego ahead of the 2021 season.
Although Tatis Jr.’s misfortune worked as Kim Ha-sung’s luck, Ha-seong Kim laughed at last year’s starting competition. With Tatis Jr. completely missing the season due to a wrist injury and a ban for taking prohibited drugs, Kim Ha-seong played 150 games as the starting shortstop. He recorded a batting average of 0.251 (130 hits in 517 at-bats), 11 home runs, and 59 RBIs, achieving a more stable performance in batting, and his defense, which was recognized from his first year in the major leagues, was even more watertight. He also received recognition as a finalist for the National League Gold Glove at shortstop.
He emphasized that he has become solid enough to hit the big leagues in his last two years. Kim Ha-seong calmly said, “Many fans and officials seem to be worried. I always have to compete with any team. I think I have to prepare well for what I can do with confidence.”
Ha-seong Kim also showed confidence in the competition in a meeting with San Diego General Manager AJ Preller. He said, “(General Manager Preller) said that he would play many games as a second baseman. He said that it would be nice to have a shortstop in the team for preparation. I agree. He said that our team’s goal is for a good player to play on the ground. . In the end, I have to do well to win the main competition.” 먹튀검증
The American press is constantly mentioning the possibility of San Diego using Kim Ha-seong as a trade card to reinforce the starting mound as the shortstop has a thick depth. Ha-seong Kim showed his will to “work hard in San Diego” despite the voices around him shaking him.
Ha-seong Kim said, “Personally, I think our team has the strongest infield out of the 30 clubs, and we are competing in it. There was no pressure at all to be traded or not. I thought I just had to do it. I tried to adapt for two years and adapt. He said, “I will spend another season proving myself.