The Cincinnati Reds have been active this offseason, making moves to bolster their roster for the 2025 season. Their most notable transactions have come through trades. They acquired starting pitcher Brady Singer from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for Jonathan India and minor leaguer Joey Wiemer.
Additionally, they secured backup catcher Jose Trevino from the New York Yankees by trading reliever Fernando Cruz and minor league catcher Alex Jackson. So far, the Reds have not ventured into free agency, but rumors suggest they are pursuing Korean infielder Hyeseong Kim.
According to Sports N Plus, a Korean YouTube channel, several teams have submitted offers to Kim, with the Reds among the interested parties. A decision is expected soon, as Kim must finalize an agreement by Friday, January 3rd, at 5 PM ET.
At 26 years old, Kim is classified as a big-league free agent and can sign with any team for a competitive salary and term. Earlier projections by MLB Trade Rumors estimated a three-year deal worth $24 million, while Sports N Plus suggested a slightly lower figure of three years and $20 million. Additionally, any team signing Kim for under $25 million would owe a 20% posting fee to his current club, the Kiwoom Heroes of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO).
Kim is primarily known for his defensive skills rather than his offensive prowess. However, he has delivered his best offensive seasons recently, hitting .335/.396/.446 with seven home runs in 2023 and .326/.383/.458 with a career-high 11 home runs in 2024. The KBO tends to favor hitters, with a league-average OPS of .772 in 2024 (up from .712 in 2023). For context, former Red Matt Davidson, who posted a .210/.273/.425 line in Japan in 2023, hit .306/.370/.633 with a league-best 46 home runs in the KBO in 2024.
Kim’s base-running is a standout feature of his game. Over his 952-game career, he has stolen 211 bases while being caught only 37 times, showcasing his speed and efficiency. Defensively, Kim has demonstrated versatility, primarily playing shortstop and second base but also logging time in left field earlier in his career.
Given his limited power, Kim may not project as an everyday player on a fully healthy team. However, his speed, defensive flexibility, and contact-hitting potential—he struck out just 62 times in 567 plate appearances in 2024—make him a strong candidate for a valuable bench role. Whether his skills will translate against MLB pitching remains to be seen.
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