'One hit, 6.2 billion won' mocked and booed → Kim Ha-seong reveals his thoughts on his terrible slump: "It's unavoidable for a pro." Yet his teammates know his efforts.

*This content was translated by AI.

Public opinion in the United States toward Kim Ha-seong (31) of the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB) is growing increasingly cold. Despite the boos at his home stadium and mockery on social media (SNS), Kim Ha-seong has accepted the fate of a professional and vowed to make a comeback. The fact that his teammates continue to show unwavering trust in his dedication is a factor that fuels expectations for his rebound.

Kim Ha-seong admitted the harsh reality in an interview with the U.S. sports outlet The Athletic after finishing the home game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia, on the 22nd (Korea time). In that game, Kim Ha-seong started as the cleanup hitter and shortstop but went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts.

He continued, "It is clear that this season has been very difficult for me personally," and added, "Since the team is moving forward well, I am trying my best to contribute. As a professional athlete, one sometimes goes through such periods. It is unavoidable for a pro. I believe this is also part of baseball, and I am doing my best to rebound somehow."

Before this season, Kim Ha-seong signed a major one-year, $20 million (approximately 30.8 billion won) contract with Atlanta. He is currently experiencing the worst slump of his career. After starting the season on the injured list (IL) due to surgery for a torn tendon in his right middle finger, which he suffered from falling on an icy road in Korea before the season, he has struggled immensely since returning in May. In 21 games, he has recorded 5 hits in 62 at-bats (batting average .081), 18 strikeouts, and an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 0.255.

According to The Athletic, this is not only the lowest OPS for a starting shortstop through the first 21 games of the season in Atlanta Braves franchise history, but also the lowest figure recorded for a shortstop position across all of Major League Baseball since 2019. Harsh mockery has even emerged among local media and fans, with some calculating that they are paying approximately $4 million (about 6.2 billion won) per hit.

The detailed batting metrics are also poor. According to the baseball statistics site Baseball Savant, Kim Ha-seong's expected slugging percentage (xSLG) is 0.199, matching his actual performance. This indicates that it is not a matter of bad luck, but rather that he is unable to produce solid contact due to the collapse of his swing mechanics caused by the aftermath of his injury.

However, amidst the vicious booing, Kim Ha-seong has chosen to charge forward. He emphasized, "If it helps the team win, I will do whatever it takes," and added, "When I step onto the field, I try to show my strengths and do my best to contribute in any way possible."

Teammates have also shown their support for Kim Ha-seong, who is silently shedding sweat. Team infielder Mauricio Dubon said, "Kim Ha-seong comes out early every morning to start batting practice. It must have been really hard to get his batting balance right after starting the season without going through spring training, yet he diligently hits balls off the pitching machine every day. We are all watching his efforts." Kim Ha-seong is making up for not participating in spring training with his hard work.

Kim Ha-seong, who is continuing his lonely battle, is now heading to Petco Park for a road series against his former team, the San Diego Padres. San Diego is the promised land where he recorded a bWAR (Wins Above Replacement) of 5.0 or higher for two consecutive years from 2022 to 2023 and won the National League Gold Glove Award. He will also meet Song Seong-moon (30), who was a junior teammate during his time with the Kiwoom Heroes.

Finally, in the interview, Kim Ha-seong said, "The most important thing is mental strength. I am trying to remember again what kind of player I was and what I was good at," and vowed to make a comeback at Petco Park by maintaining a positive mindset.

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*This content was translated by AI.