'This can't be' Hanwha Noh Si-hwan completely absent from 'MLB FA Grade' list, Kim Ha-seong rated 5th tier in 'unlucky season'

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The official Major League Baseball (MLB) website announced the grades of key players entering this season's free agent (FA) market. Kim Ha-seong (31) was classified as the lowest tier, Grade 5. Additionally, Hanwha Eagles power hitter Noh Si-hwan (26), who declared his challenge to enter the big leagues through the posting system, was not mentioned at all.

MLB.com, the official MLB website, revealed on the 7th (Korean time) that it had divided and published 181 players who acquired FA eligibility this offseason into Grades 1 through 5.

Among them, Kim Ha-seong was listed in the lowest Grade 5 alongside pitchers Chris Bassitt, Craig Kimbrel, Tomoaki Sugo, and others.

Kim Ha-seong exercised his FA rights after opting out following the end of last season. Kim Ha-seong, who signed a one-year, $20 million contract with the Atlanta Braves, aimed for a major leap in the 2026 season but unfortunately had his progress hindered by injury setbacks.

Kim Ha-seong underwent surgery on his right middle finger following a fall on an icy road last January. He eventually returned to the big leagues somewhat late in May, and subsequently endured a difficult period, including repeated injuries that saw him shuttle between the major and minor leagues.

This season, Kim Ha-seong appeared in 51 games, recording a .116 batting average (15 hits in 129 at-bats), 9 RBIs, 11 runs scored, and an OPS of .359.

After the season ended, he re-entered the FA market without receiving a qualifying offer (QO) from Atlanta.

Furthermore, Noh Si-hwan, who is aiming for MLB entry through posting, was completely excluded from this MLB.com FA grade list.

Meanwhile, in this evaluation, Tarik Skubel, who established himself as the top left-handed pitcher by winning the American League Cy Young Award consecutively in 2024 and 2025, was the only player named to the top Grade 1.

MLB.com assessed that "Skubel stood shoulder-to-shoulder with league-leading elite players such as Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani, and Juan Soto."

Grade 2 included Jake Bauers, who led the Milwaukee Brewers to their first World Series championship in franchise history, along with Seiya Suzuki, Luis Araez, Sonny Gray, Randy Arozarena, and others.

Notably, Teruaki Sato, who applied for posting after winning the batting triple crown in the Japanese Professional Baseball Central League, was also included in Grade 2, drawing attention.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original