Despite Kim Ha-sung's dignified attitude, why did he ask Lee Jung-hoo for his local interest in the U.S. despite the recruitment of "256 billion FA's biggest shortstop?"
Despite Kim Ha-sung's dignified attitude, why did he ask Lee Jung-hoo for his local interest in the U.S. despite the recruitment of "256 billion FA's biggest shortstop?"
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There is a free agent (FA) biggest fish shortstop who was brought with a whopping $182 million (265 billion won) for seven years, and the U.S. continues to recommend recruiting Kim Ha-sung. This shows the value and dignity of Kim Ha-sung.
MLB.com , the official website of the U.S. Major League Baseball, analyzed the most suitable destination after selecting nine outstanding FA players who could not find their team as of the 21st (Korea time).먹튀검증
MLB.com picked the San Francisco Giants (Best fit: Giants) as the best team for Kim Ha-sung. The media analyzed, "We recruited infielder Willy Adames and pitcher Justin Verlander, respectively, but San Francisco is still behind in power compared to other NL strong teams."
The San Francisco Giants embraced Willie Adames, 30, who was considered the biggest shortstop in the winter transfer market. He signed a seven-year contract worth 182 million U.S. dollars. This was not the end of his life. He even recruited Justin Verlander (42), a living legend of the Major League Baseball. He signed a 15-million-dollar contract with Verlander who is a veteran player, to provide him with an opportunity to recover his fame.
Although a considerable amount of money was invested, the U.S. saw that San Francisco's power was still insufficient compared to other teams in the same district. At the same time, it was Kim Ha-sung who recommended it. Moreover, the reason why Kim Ha-sung's name was mentioned in the situation of recruiting Adames is that he highly appreciated Kim Ha-sung's utility player ability. Even if Kim Ha-sung's main position is shortstop, it is calculated that if Adames plays shortstop, Kim Ha-sung can also play second baseman.
Kim Ha-sung is a utility player who boasts the best defense in the Major League. His biggest advantage is that he can play various positions including shortstop, second baseman, and third baseman. He was the first Asian infielder to win the Gold Glove Award. MLB.com said, "If Kim Ha-sung's right shoulder, which underwent surgery, improves enough to return, San Francisco will be able to resolve its weakness in second baseman (when recruited). He also praised San Francisco for its stronger threat in the NL wild card competition." Analysts said that the addition of Kim Ha-sung will strengthen San Francisco's power.
Of course, San Francisco has strong candidates for the starting second baseman. The star is Tyler Fitzgerald (28), a utility player who can even play defense in the outfield. However, Fitzgerald has played for two seasons since his big league debut in 2023, but he has yet to show off his strong performance. Media outlets also pointed out this point.
The MLB.com said, "The San Francisco Giants currently see Tyler Fitzgerald as the mainstay of Keystone. However, we need to be realistic about the expectations for the 27-year-old. Last year, when he was a rookie, Fitzgerald hit 15 home runs and recorded 132 wRC+ (adjusted scoring ability) in 341 plate appearances. However, there is a reason to be skeptical about his future."
"Fitz-Gerald hit only one homer in the last 36 games last year, and his on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) was only 0.592. According to Steamer, a statistics program for the U.S. baseball statistics site FanGraph, he is expected to be a below-average hitter (93wRC+) in the 2025 season."
In the end, the recruitment of Kim Ha-sung instead of Fitzgerald, who is not satisfied with both destructive power and defense, will further strengthen the team. Even though Kim Ha-sung is not able to play in the opening game, recommending Kim Ha-sung means that the value of Kim Ha-sung's ball and defense is high in the U.S. as well.
Kim Ha-sung was substituted for the Colorado Rockies on August 19 last year as he felt pain in his shoulder. Initially, some predicted that the injury would not be serious enough to require surgery. However, as a result, this game will remain as Kim Ha-sung's last game in the 2024 season. Kim Ha-sung underwent a surgery for the right shoulder joint in October last year, about two months later.
Currently, Kim Ha-sung is committed to rehabilitation. Initially, the prevailing view was that it would be difficult for Kim to play in the opening game of the Major League in the mainland. He was expected to return to the Major League in April, but some predicted that his return could be delayed further to May. In the meantime, Kim Ha-sung recently released a video of tee batting indoors through his personal social network service, leaving a message of "Good start." If he succeeds in returning to the Major League in May, he will be able to play at least 100 games in the 2025 season.
In fact, San Francisco was also reported to have shown interest in Kim Ha-sung. Before leaving for the U.S., Lee Jung-hoo said honestly, "The team had asked (Kim) Ha-sung about his physical condition," and added, "I also asked about the players playing in Korea. However, it was a little too much for me to ask (Kim) Ha-sung to recruit me. Regardless of the team, I want to be treated well and always do well. I haven't heard about the contract yet, but I think good news will come soon." If San Francisco had no interest in Kim Ha-sung, it would not have asked Lee Jung-hoo.
Kim played in 121 games during the 2024 season and posted a batting average of 0.233 (94 hits in 403 times at bat), 11 homers, 47 RBIs, 60 runs scored, 58 walks, 77 strikeouts, 22 steals (five failed), 0.330 on-base percentage, 0.370 on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) and 0.700 on-base plus slugging percentage (on-base plus slugging percentage). In the U.S., the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners, the Atlanta Braves, the Chicago Cubs, and the San Diego Padres are constantly connected to Kim. Where will he go? The time of destiny is approaching.