The San Diego Padres saw Korean shortstop Ha-Seong Kim depart via free agency early in the offseason. Although there’s still a possibility he could return to California, the versatile infielder is reportedly attracting significant interest from teams across the league, making his return uncertain.
Meanwhile, it was announced on Tuesday that fellow Korean infielder (unrelated to Ha-Seong) is expected to be officially posted on Wednesday, starting a 30-day window during which any MLB team can sign him.
Could the Padres replace Ha-Seong Kim with the newcomer from the KBO?
So far, there haven’t been many reports directly linking the two parties, but the player’s market and negotiations are just starting to pick up.
Beyond the amusing similarity in their names, Ha-Seong Kim and Hyeseong Kim are comparable players. Ha-Seong has an edge in power, but Hyeseong is still a highly valuable player in his own right and is expected to come at a lower cost.
Unlike Roki Sasaki, Hyeseong Kim qualifies as a “professional” player, meaning he can sign the largest deal available since he is at least 25 years old (26, to be exact) and has over six years of experience in a foreign league.
MLB Trade Rumors offers this comparison of the two Kims as the Padres explore middle infield options:
“Offensively, Hyeseong falls slightly short of Ha-Seong. Over eight seasons in the KBO, Hyeseong posted a .304/.364/.403 slash line, while Ha-Seong hit .294/.373/.493 in seven KBO seasons. While their batting averages and on-base percentages are relatively close, Ha-Seong stands out in slugging. In 2024, Hyeseong hit a career-high 11 home runs, whereas Ha-Seong had 19 or more home runs in each of his final six KBO seasons, including a 30-homer campaign in his last year.”
The Padres would be smart to at least consider Kim
The Seattle Mariners have emerged as the most popular destination for Ha-Seong Kim, according to both experts and fans. However, the Padres should still take the time to scout him and give serious consideration to his potential.
Over the past three seasons with the Padres, Ha-Seong Kim has averaged nearly 3.5 fWAR per year. If he maintains that level of performance, he would be a valuable asset for whichever team signs him. However, the transition from the KBO to MLB can be challenging, so it’s reasonable to expect some initial struggles as he adjusts in his first year.
While the price will be a key factor, the Padres should definitely keep Ha-Seong Kim in mind as a possible free-agent option this offseason.
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