*This content was translated by AI.
Song Sung-moon (30, San Diego Padres) unfortunately failed to hit a hit in the exhibition game.
Song Sung-moon started as the fifth batter and second baseman in the 2026 Major League Baseball (MLB) exhibition game against the San Francisco Giants at Scottsdale Stadium in Arizona on the 2nd (Korea time), and was silent with no hits in three times at bat.
On this day, San Diego organized the starting lineup in the order of Jace Bowen (center fielder), Bryce Johnson (right fielder), Ramon Loreano (left fielder), Thai France (third baseman), Song Sung-moon (second baseman), Luis Campusano (designated hitter), Jose Miranda (first baseman), Rodolfo Duran (catcher), and Mason McCoy (striker). The starting pitcher was Hermann Marquez.
In response, San Francisco made the starting lineup in the order of Willie Adames (striker), Bryce Eldridge (first baseman), Casey Schmidt (second baseman), Patrick Bailey (catcher), Matt Chapman (third baseman), Grant McCray (right fielder), Jared Oliva (center fielder), Tyler Fitzgerald (left fielder), and Herar Encarnacion (designated hitter). The starting pitcher was ace Logan Webb.
Song Sung-moon faced his first at-bat in the top of the first inning with San Diego leading 1-0. The first ball is a body-side one-bound ball. I just watched the outside changeup on the second pitch. In the third pitch, the bat was belatedly wasted on a cutter formed on a high course. The fourth ball. He hit a changeup that came into the low course outside the web with a "tuk" well, but it became a one-bound ground ball to shortstop. Out at first base. The end of the inning.
San Diego then trailed 1-3 in the top of the fourth inning. a situation in which there are no runners with two outs. Song Sung-moon took the batter's box for the second time. The opposing pitcher is right-handed bullpen JT Brubaker. I just watched the curve of the first strike course. The second curve is a one-bound ball toward the body. Then, the third ball. Brubaker's 94.2 miles (151.3 km) sinker was well rolled up, but he was relieved when he stepped down with a fly ball to center field.
Song Sung-moon faced his third at-bat in the top of the sixth inning when his team was still losing 1-3. Song Sung-moon with his bat on the first curve in the middle. The second pitch was also an outside strike. According to the MLB's official website Game Day broadcast, it was found to be slightly on the outside strike zone. Song Sung-moon, who was quickly caught in a disadvantageous 0-2 ball count. The third ball is a ball that fell out wide. Fouls on the fourth and fifth pitches. In the end, he bowed his head with a strikeout on a 95.1 mile (153km) four-seam fastball that was far away from the outside high course for the sixth pitch. Song Sung-moon was replaced by Nick Solak ahead of the defense in the bottom of the sixth inning and finished his game on the day. Although he did not get a hit, Song Sung-moon showed a relatively stable performance in defense, handling ground balls and fly balls without errors.
Song Sung-moon made his U.S. stage debut against the Los Angeles Dodgers on the 23rd of last month. 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. On the 25th, he started as the fourth batter and third baseman and recorded no hits, one walk, and one strikeout in two at-bats. The first hit came on the 27th. He started as the sixth batter and second baseman against the Cincinnati Reds, completing a three-base game with one hit and two walks in two at-bats. On the 28th, he started as the eighth batter and third baseman against the Colorado Rockies and scored one hit and one run in three at-bats. However, unfortunately, he remained silent with no hits in three at-bats and promised the next time.
After the game, Song Sung-moon's performance in exhibition games this year was 0.167 (2 hits in 12 at-bats) with two runs, three walks and five strikeouts, a slugging percentage of 0.167 and an on-base percentage of 0.500.
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 after showing a rapid recovery speed, he has continued to participate in exhibition games and continue to impress.
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.
