'Batting average of 0.333' Kim Ha-seong swings hard, but Atlanta has no reason to rush... 'Third FA' Kim Ha-seong is left waiting

*This content was translated by AI.

Kim Ha-seong (31), who had been bowing his head due to successive injuries, has been swinging the bat hard day after day, yet the Atlanta Braves have no reason to be in a hurry.

Kim Ha-seong, who belongs to the Columbus Clingstones of Double-A under the Atlanta Braves, started as the second designated hitter in a minor league Double-A home game against the Montgomery Biscuits (under the Tampa Bay Rays) at Sinovus Park in Columbus, Georgia, USA, on the 4th (Korean time). He recorded 4 at-bats, 1 hit, 1 walk, and 1 run.

Kim Ha-seong, who hit a hit in his first game, managed only a walk in the second game, but on the 3rd, he recorded 1 hit and 2 walks for 3 times on base, and today he once again showed great performance with multiple times on base.

As a result, his batting average is 0.333 (9 at-bats, 3 hits), with 1 stolen base and 3 runs scored. His on-base percentage is 0.538, slugging percentage is 0.333, and OPS (on-base percentage + slugging percentage) is 0.871.

He is suffering from a nightmare of injuries that has become tiresome. Kim Ha-seong, who entered Major League Baseball (MLB) in 2021, spent a career-high season in 2023 with 17 home runs, 60 RBIs, 38 stolen bases, and an OPS of 0.749, and was even awarded the infielder Gold Glove (utility position), the first in Asia.

There were evaluations that a large contract worth over $100 million (approximately 147.1 billion won) was possible, but due to a shoulder injury in the final year of his contract, he ended up on the operating table. Nevertheless, he entered the free agent (FA) market, but unlike before, interest had cooled, and he signed a two-year, maximum $31 million (approximately 4.56 billion won) deal with the Tampa Bay Rays.

The contract included an opt-out clause, and the plan was to secure a blockbuster deal a year later. However, he returned in July after rehabilitation, and after moving to the Atlanta Braves in September, he rebounded and ultimately stayed with Atlanta on a one-year, $20 million (approximately 2.94 billion won) contract.

He is now facing a de facto third FA challenge and prepared for the season with the resolve to prepare well this time and hit the jackpot with a contract. The plan to participate in the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) and showcase himself in advance was thwarted by an absurd injury. In January, he fell on ice, rupturing the tendon in his right hand finger, and was back on the operating table.

After a long rehabilitation, he started playing rehabilitation games in Double-A from the 30th of last month. He was retired with infield grounders in the bottom of the first and third innings, but as the leadoff hitter in the bottom of the sixth, he hit a left-field hit. He scored when subsequent hitter Rizzardo Espinoza hit a home run. In the bottom of the seventh with one out, Kim Ha-seong was limited to a shortstop grounder, and in the bottom of the eighth with two outs and a runner on second, he reached base on a walk.

Confirming his perfect physical condition is the top priority, but Kim Ha-seong's mind may be in a hurry. He has undergone two surgeries and has aged accordingly, in a situation where he must prove he is a resource capable of playing like a golden egg in offense, defense, and base running, as he did during his San Diego days. In a situation where he must perform better than before to be recognized for that value, the team has already played 35 games since the start of the season.

Moreover, the fact that the team is currently showing the most terrifying momentum in MLB is a situation where Kim Ha-seong cannot simply smile.

Atlanta has 25 wins and 10 losses, with a winning percentage of 0.714, the highest among the 30th teams. In the National League East Division, they are in an overwhelming first place with an 8.5-game lead. MLB's official website, MLB.com, selected Atlanta as the number one team in the club power rankings.

Atlanta has reached the top of the power rankings for the first time in three years, and coincidentally, this situation is occurring in the absence of Kim Ha-seong. MLB.com evaluated that "Atlanta has never had a dominant race like this season, even when they won the division in 2021 and 2022."

Kim Ha-seong can play all infield positions, but he has mainly played shortstop and second base. However, Mauricio Dubon and Jorge Mateo, who are playing at shortstop, are both performing excellently. Dubon has a batting average of 0.267, 2 home runs, 18 RBIs, and an OPS of 0.745, while Mateo has a batting average of 0.286, 2 home runs, 5 RBIs, 12 runs scored, and an OPS of 0.794, engaging in a friendly competition.

The second base position is firmly held by Aj Albis. He leads the lineup with a batting average of 0.333, 7 home runs, 22 RBIs, 27 runs scored, and an OPS of 0.932.

If he cannot perform beyond his current level even after passing through Double-A and reaching Triple-A, there is no urgent reason for Atlanta to call up Kim Ha-seong. Although he signed a one-year contract, if Kim Ha-seong does not receive a good evaluation from the market, Atlanta may once again acquire Kim Ha-seong at a low price.

The third FA must not end in a disappointing conclusion. In the end, there is no choice but to swing the bat hard and clearly show that he is prepared.

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*This content was translated by AI.