San Diego’s Kim Ha-seong is walking toward the dugout while touching his injured right shoulder during the MLB game against Colorado held on August 18. [사진=AFP연합뉴스]
Kim Ha-seong (28) of the American Major League Baseball (MLB) San Diego Padres, also known as the ‘Steel King’, was unable to overcome shoulder pain and ended up having to undergo shoulder surgery to end the season.
Not only did he hit the free agent jackpot, but his team, the San Diego Padres, was confirmed to advance to the postseason, which made him even more disappointed.
San Diego coach Mike Silt said at a meeting with local reporters ahead of the away game against the Arizona Diamondbacks held at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona, USA on the 29th (Korean time), “Ha-sung Kim’s season is over.” Ha-Seong Kim also appeared in person and announced that he was scheduled for shoulder surgery, saying, “I feel very disappointed and frustrated.”
Ha-seong Kim had a batting average of 0.233, 11 home runs, and 47 RBIs this season. In a game against the Colorado Rockies on August 19, he was substituted out after complaining of shoulder pain after sliding to first base while checking the opposing pitcher. Afterwards, he devoted himself to rehabilitation and training for over a month, but was unable to recover ahead of the postseason and ended up on the operating table.
Previously, Lee Jeong-hoo (San Francisco Giants) ended the season early due to a left shoulder injury last May, and Kim Ha-seong also ended the season early due to injury, leading Korean major leaguers to suffer from injuries.
Ha-Seong Kim is scheduled to undergo surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder. As a result, participation in the postseason, which will begin early next month, was also frustrated. Nevertheless, Ha-seong Kim swallowed his regret, saying, “I did everything I could to return to the team and help, but my body did not work as I wanted.” He said, “This team is like family to me. “We have a golden opportunity to win this year,” he said. “Although I cannot be with the team this fall, I will sincerely support my teammates.”
Meanwhile, with this surgery, attention has been drawn to Kim Ha-seong’s actions after this season. Ha-seong Kim signed a contract with San Diego for four years starting in 2021, and was planning to pursue a long-term contract by obtaining free agency status at the end of this season. Last August, ESPN in the U.S. predicted Kim Ha-seong’s free agent market value to be between $100 million and $200 million (approximately KRW 131 billion to KRW 262 billion), but the negotiation strategy will need to be reworked due to the unexpected variable of shoulder surgery.
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