"Finally" Song Sungmoon ML's first starting player, debuting 4 times! I got on base for the first time→ Contribute to the ace opponent's bases-loaded chance

*This content was translated by AI.

Song Sung-moon (31, San Diego Padres) took the opportunity to start for the first time in an exhibition game after entering the big league. Although he didn't hit a hit, he showed his pioneering ability to score a valuable walk.

Song Sung-moon started the Chicago Cubs and 2026 MLB Major League exhibition game at Sloan Park in Arizona on the 25th (Korea time) as the fourth batter and third baseman and recorded no hits, one walk and one strikeout in two at-bats.

Song Sung-moon made his U.S. stage debut against the Los Angeles Dodgers on the 23rd. At that time, he played as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the sixth inning and recorded no hits and one strikeout in two at-bats.

And in his second exhibition game on the day, he took a valuable opportunity to start and succeeded in getting on base for the first time.

Song Sung-moon entered the batter's box for the first time in the top of the first inning with one out and runners on first and second bases when both teams were 0-0 in the top of the first inning. The opposing pitcher is Shota Imana, the Japanese ace. Song Sung-moon avoided the high ball on the body of the first pitch and misplayed the bat on the ball entering the similar course for the second pitch. The third pitch is a strike slightly smeared in the low zone outside. The fourth pitch was a one-bound ball. The fifth pitch fouled the ball into the outer zone. In the end, a four-seam fastball came into the high course outside the sixth pitch, and Song Sung-moon missed the bat and struck out swinging.

Song Sung-moon's first on base in the big league came in the third inning. The team fell behind 0-3 in the top of the third inning. His second at-bat. The chance came with one out and runners on second and third. Here, Song Seong-moon showed his concentration. He got on base by drawing a walk against bullpen pitcher Daniel Palencia. His first pitch was a 100-mile (160.9-kilometer) four-seam fastball. The second and third pitches were sliders. The low ball outside the third pitch appeared to be slightly buried in the zone above the game, but the referee's hand did not go up. The fourth pitch was a strike in the middle, but Song Sung-moon just watched it once. The fifth four-seam fastball also appeared to be slightly buried in the high zone outside, but Song Sung-moon succeeded in getting on base when the ball was declared. However, the two subsequent hitters were silent side by side and failed to score.

The third at-bat was an infield grounder out. Two outs and a chance for first and second base. This time, it was bold. I didn't wait. The four-seam fastball headed to the lower course against Cubs bullpen Vince Reilly. It was a ball that was slightly off the zone, but Song Sung-moon boldly threw the bat and swallowed the disappointment by only hitting a ground ball to first base.

Song Sung-moon finished his game on the day by replacing pinch hitter Jose Miranda in the top of the sixth inning with two outs and runners on first and second bases, when San Diego was trailing 2-6.

Meanwhile, Song Sung-moon succeeded in entering the big league by signing a four-year contract worth $15 million (about 22.2 billion won) with San Diego in December last year. Song Sung-moon should compete fiercely for the starting lineup from the spring camp right away. Not only competition with existing prominent superstars, but also competition with prospects who are aiming for a call-up in the minor leagues is inevitable.

However, Song Sung-moon suffered a side injury during off-season training and spent time devoted to treatment. He suffered a flank muscle injury during batting training in Korea around the middle of last month. At that time, the hospital diagnosed that it needed more than four weeks to resume training. Eventually, he received intensive treatment at the Ijima Treatment Center in Yokohama, Japan, and then moved to Arizona to join the San Diego Spring Camp. And he is trying to further improve his condition by playing two games safely until the game.

Earlier, Song Sung-moon said about the expected competition for the starting lineup, "I know that there are some people who are worried about that. In fact, the U.S. is really the best stage. I think it's natural to compete no matter which team you go to. The same is true for both South Korea and the United States. There are many good players on any team. Now it's important for me to compete on the spot and show good performance. There will be many things to learn by being with good players. Just as (Kim)Ha-sung survived by competing with good players in the United States, I will prepare well to show that."

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*This content was translated by AI.