*This content was translated by AI.
A U.S. local reporter has once again launched a sharp criticism against Kim Ha-seong (31, Atlanta Braves).
Mark Bowman, an Atlanta-based beat reporter for MLB.com who has consistently posted critical opinions about Kim Ha-seong, strongly criticized the team's roster management on the 26th (Korean time) by meticulously pointing out Kim's meager playing record via his social media.
In fact, this is not the first time Bowman has targeted Kim Ha-seong. On the 2nd, ahead of an upcoming roster cut, he reported on the atmosphere inside the club and clubhouse surrounding Kim, who had just completed rehabilitation in the minor leagues. At that time, quoting voices from the scene, Bowman revealed, "If you have the guts to make a firm and cold decision, you should keep Jorge Mateo (31) on the roster and designate Kim Ha-seong for assignment (DFA), as this is what many inside the clubhouse currently want." He added, "But I don't think that decision will be made," causing a major stir.
Ultimately, Mateo left the team while Kim Ha-seong survived, but Bowman's criticism did not stop. He once again pointed out, "Since returning to the Atlanta roster, Kim has appeared in only four of the 19th games played by the team, managing just 11 innings." In reality, Kim has played in 31 major league games this season with a batting average of .066 (5 hits in 76 at-bats) and 4 RBIs. He has not hit a single home run either. While experts, including the team itself, attribute his struggles to the fatal impact of missing spring training due to a finger injury, Bowman's stance remains very firm.
He then listed Kim's performance statistics in detail, raising the level of criticism. Bowman stated, "Since returning, his batting stats are 0-for-3 with one run scored and one RBI. Even that run came as a pinch runner in the 10th inning of an extra-inning game against the New York Yankees, and the only RBI was a ground ball hit in the ninth inning of a lopsided 2-10 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on the 16th," emphasizing that these are meaningless records.
Bowman even brought up Mateo's current statistics with the Tampa Bay Rays. During his final 19 games with Atlanta, Mateo appeared in six games (21 innings), recording one hit (a double) in five at-bats and one stolen base. He even took to the mound for a third of an inning without allowing any runs.
Bowman said, "Mateo received only limited opportunities during his final few weeks with Atlanta," while directly attacking the team's decision to keep Kim Ha-seong. He sharply remarked, "Aside from the reason of not wanting to simply throw away the $20 million (approximately 27.7 billion won) investment in Kim Ha-seong, which has now become a 'sunk cost,' keeping him on the roster is never rational in the first place."
From exposing the clubhouse atmosphere to attacking the concept of "sunk costs," as the local beat reporter relentlessly shakes Kim Ha-seong's position, it remains highly questionable whether he can find a turning point and prove his standing.
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*This content was translated by AI.
