'No such player in MLB history' Kim Ha-seong, worst batting average and slugging percentage ever... What to do about the '409 billion won FA'?

*This content was translated by AI.

Is the shock of injury this great? Kim Ha-seong (31, Atlanta Braves) is going through a terrible time.

Kim Ha-seong has recorded 85 plate appearances, 76 at-bats, 5 hits, 4 RBIs, 5 runs scored, 9 walks, 23 strikeouts, and 1 stolen base in 31 games this season in Major League Baseball (MLB). His batting average stands at 0.066, on-base percentage at 0.165, slugging percentage at 0.066, and OPS (on-base plus slugging) at just 0.231.

AT, a media specialist for the U.S. outlet Just Baseball, posted Kim Ha-seong's season statistics on his social networking service (SNS) channel, stating, "There have been a total of 45,719 seasons in baseball history where a player recorded at least 85 plate appearances." He added, "Among them, Kim Ha-seong ranks 45,719th in both batting average and slugging percentage, and 45,718th in OPS. These are the worst batting average and slugging percentage ever recorded."

Just a few years ago, no one could have predicted such an event. Kim Ha-seong, the shortstop who had no rivals in the KBO League, began his big league career with the San Diego Padres in the 2021 season.

Despite lacking power in his first season, he played in a remarkable 117 games, showcasing his versatility in defense while recording a batting average of 0.202, 8 home runs, and an OPS of 0.622.

In his second season, he secured the starting shortstop position for San Diego. The following year, while primarily playing second base, he also handled various positions at shortstop and other spots, becoming the first Asian infielder to win a Gold Glove Award. At the plate, he had an impressive season with a batting average of 0.260, 17 home runs, 60 RBIs, 85 runs scored, 38 stolen bases, an on-base percentage of 0.351, a slugging percentage of 0.398, and an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 0.749.

Kim Ha-seong signed his first four-year contract with the Padres. After the 2024 season, he was expected to secure a deal worth over $100 million (approximately 141.1 billion won). Although his batting average dropped to 0.233, he recorded 11 home runs, 47 RBIs, and 60 runs scored in 121 games with an OPS of 0.700.

The problem was injury. He suffered a shoulder injury during base running and underwent surgery. Concerns followed that there might be issues with his throwing arm. Kim Ha-seong entered the free agent (FA) market after the season ended but received little interest, eventually signing a two-year, $29 million (approximately 40.9 billion won) contract with the Tampa Bay Rays that included an opt-out clause.

He finally returned in July last year and showed disappointing performance until he moved to Atlanta in September, where he began to show signs of recovery. He entered the FA market once again, and it seemed the Atlanta Braves were confident in Kim Ha-seong's resurgence, offering him a one-year, $20 million (approximately 28.2 billion won) contract.

However, he was struck by injury once again. While staying in Korea before spring training, Kim Ha-seong fell on an icy road and ruptured the tendon in his right middle finger. He was called up from the minor leagues last May but has been unable to contribute at all.

In 31 games, he has a batting average of 0.066 (5 hits in 76 at-bats) with no extra-base hits. AT also remarked, "Five hits in 85 plate appearances is truly shocking," and added, referring to his 2023 performance alongside this season's stats, "He was truly a devil of a player."

While he remains in the big leagues due to his defensive utility, the outlook is not bright. Given his current performance, it is difficult to guarantee that he will find a new team even after this season ends. A turnaround is needed, but seizing an opportunity has proven difficult. Kim Ha-seong is going through the most difficult period since his MLB debut.

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*This content was translated by AI.