“People who saw it in the KBO aren’t even surprised” Kim Ha-seong’s fantasy glove toss…let’s just go GG.
“His skills are no surprise to those who have followed his career in the KBO.”
Kim Ha-seong (San Diego Padres) did it again, helping teammate Darvish Yoo reach 100 major league wins. Starting in the No. 7 spot at second base, Kim went 1-for-4 with a walk, a hit, an RBI and a stolen base in the Padres’ 2023 Major League Baseball opener against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado, on Tuesday.
The hit was nice, but it was his sharp defense that stole the show once again. In the bottom of the seventh inning with a 9-4 lead, Charlie Blackmon’s hard hit ball rolled slowly to first and second. Second baseman Kim Ha-seong quickly stepped forward, but didn’t have enough time to make the throw to first base.
Kim then made a spectacular glove toss. As soon as he got the ball in his left glove, he used the recoil to toss it straight to first base. He almost fell over, but he didn’t, and the throw was quite accurate. With Colorado rallying in the late innings, this was a big hit for Kim.
Kim is the No. 1 overall DRS Major League pitcher this season. According to FanGraphs, through 10 days, he has 9 at second base, 4 at shortstop, and 2 at third base. He won a Gold Glove last year at shortstop in the National League, and many local media outlets believe he has a legitimate shot at second base in the National League this year.
According to Sports Illustrated’s Fan Nation, Inside the Padres, “Kim is poised for a Gold Glove season despite the position change. In what has been a difficult season for San Diego, Kim has been a shining star. His defense has been tremendous. He’s ready to have the best season of his career in his third year in the majors. He has the potential to reach his peak.”
“He’s not just the best defender in San Diego, he’s one of the best defenders in the entire major leagues. He is currently ranked #1 in DRS.” “His incredible skills on defense are no surprise to anyone who has followed his career in the KBO.”
Kim also played shortstop and third base for the KBO’s Kiwoom Heroes. He won three consecutive Golden Gloves from 2018 to 2020. Unlike the Major Leagues, the KBO is an offense-oriented league that emphasizes offense, but that doesn’t mean that defense isn’t important. While Kim’s defense has improved in the major leagues, he was always good at it in Kiwoom.
As Inside the Padres notes, “Kim shows that he can play anywhere in the infield in the major leagues, including shortstop, third base, and second base. He excels at all of those positions, but this season he’s been playing second base. At second base, he has a .993 fielding percentage, just one error, 54 putouts, and 85 assists.”안전놀이터
“These numbers strongly support the idea that Kim could win his first Gold Glove in the major leagues. Indeed, Kim is confident of winning his first Gold Glove this season. He is a tremendous asset to San Diego, and fans eagerly anticipate his continued growth and success. His stellar defense has cemented his position as the core of the team. It will be exciting to see how far his talent can take him as the season progresses.”
