adminHow high will Ha Sung Kim’s (28, San Diego Padres) value skyrocket, this time as a candidate for the best second baseman in Major League Baseball (MLB)?
“For the remainder of the season, we’ll be breaking down the best players at each position and categorizing them into frontrunners, contenders, and dark horses,” MLB.com wrote in a story titled “Who Were the Best Players at Each Position This Year?” on Thursday. Today, it’s second base.” Kim is the fourth of eight players to be recognized as an ALL-MLB second base candidate.
We have been selecting the ALL-MLB team since 2019. Nominations for the team, which is based on 50 percent fan voting and 50 percent expert panel voting, will be announced in November with the final announcement in December.
The first and second teams recognize the best performers at each position during the season, regardless of league. Each team consists of a catcher, first baseman, second baseman, shortstop, third baseman, three outfielders of any position, one designated hitter, five starting pitchers and two relievers.
Kim was listed in the “contender” category, behind front-runners Marcus Semien (Texas Rangers) and Luis Arajuez (Miami Marlins), and fourth overall behind A.J. Albies (Atlanta Braves).
“Kim was San Diego’s most valuable player with a 4.4 fWAR (wins above replacement per FanGraphs), a team-high .275 batting average, .365 on-base percentage, .429 slugging percentage, .794 OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) and 17 home runs,” said MLB.com.
“As is a common theme among second baseman ALL-MLB candidates, Kim doesn’t hit particularly hard, but he makes up for it by hitting the ball in the right spots. He ranks 93rd in chase rate and 91st in swinging strike rate.” “Furthermore, he already has 31 stolen bases and continues to play solid defense. His +10 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) ranks fourth among second basemen.”
Kim’s defensive prowess began to be recognized last year. He was recognized as one of three finalists for the National League (NL) Gold Glove. While he’s been playing second base this season, he’s also been playing third base and shortstop.
Even more surprising, however, is his marked improvement at the plate. In his third year in the big leagues, Kim struggled mightily in his first season, batting just .202. He struggled with both fastballs and changeups.
He took it to the next level last season, hitting .251 with double-digit home runs (11). He has 17 home runs and is three away from 20. His quick feet are also a strength. He has already become a trademark for his aggressive baserunning that often results in his helmet coming off. If he adds three more home runs, he will become the first Asian infielder to hit 20 home runs and steal 30 bases in a 2023 MLB home game against the San Francisco Giants at Petco Park in San Diego, California, USA, on April 4, batting first and playing second base. No other Asian infielder has ever gone 20-20.
MLB Trade Rumors (MLBTR), which covers MLB news, also praised Kim for his incredible progress over the past three days. “After spending a lot of money on him this offseason and underperforming expectations, Kim has taken a huge step forward this year and is turning into one of the best infielders in the league,” said MLBTR.바카라사이트
“Even more impressive than the defense is the leap in offense. If he was an above-average offensive player last year, he’s developed into an All-Star caliber hitter this year.” “His vastly improved offense, coupled with his defense, has elevated him from team MVP in San Diego to NL MVP caliber player.”