Kim Ha-seong, whose stock price is soaring MLB.com “Best utility free agent for next off-season”

Kim Ha-seong (29) of the San Diego Padres of the U.S. Major League Baseball (MLB) was selected as the biggest free agent (FA) player in the utility category in next year's off-season.

“Can play excellent defense at any position.”

MLB's official website, MLB.com, selected the top free agents by position for the next off-season on the 18th (Korean time). A total of 11 players were selected in the categories of infielders, outfielders, starting and bullpen pitchers, catchers, and utilities.

Ha-seong Kim, who showed off his versatility in MLB, was named in the utility category. Last year, he was responsible for 856⅔ innings in 106 games as a second baseman, 253⅓ innings in 32 games as a third baseman, and 153⅓ innings in 20 games as a shortstop, and won the National League (NL) Utility Category Gold Glove in recognition of his defensive skills. The Gold Glove is MLB's most prestigious award that evaluates only defensive skills.

MLB.com said, “Kim Ha-seong can be listed as a second baseman or shortstop, and is capable of excellent defense at any position. He can also play third base. “He won the Gold Glove for the first time after converting to second base last year,” he explained. “We did not know where the team signing Kim Ha-seong in 2025 would place him, so we included him in the utility category.”

This year, Ha-seong Kim returns to his familiar position as shortstop. San Diego manager Mike Silt announced on the 17th that Xander Bogaerts would move to second base and Ha-Seong Kim would move to shortstop.

Ha-seong Kim also showed remarkable growth in batting. He achieved excellent results in 152 games in the 2023 season, his third year in the United States, with a batting average of 0.260, 140 hits, 17 home runs, 60 RBIs, 84 runs, and 38 stolen bases.

MLB.com said, “Kim Ha-seong’s batting developed in MLB. “He showed above-average offense by lowering the strikeout rate and increasing the walk rate,” he said, adding, “He also succeeded in stealing 38 bases by utilizing new rules (such as increasing the size of the base).”

Ha-seong Kim, who signed a four-year contract with San Diego for $28 million (approximately 37.4 billion won) ahead of the 2021 season, can enter the free agent (FA) market after this season. In 2025, a one-year contract extension is possible by mutual agreement with the San Diego club, but it is unlikely that the exercise of free agency rights will be postponed when the value has risen.

In addition to Ha-seong Kim, Danny Jansen (Toronto Blue Jays), first baseman Pete Alonso (New York Mets), second baseman Gleyber Torres (New York Yankees), shortstop Willie Adames (Milwaukee Brewers), third baseman Alex Bregman (Houston Astros), and left fielder Tyler O'Neill (Boston Red Sox), center fielder Victor Robles (Washington Nationals), right fielder Juan Soto (Yankees), starting pitcher Corbin Burns (Baltimore Orioles), and relief pitcher Clay Holmes (Yankees) were named as the top free agents by position. 슬롯