Throughout the recent winter free-agency period, Ha-Seong Kim stood out as one of the most complete infield options on the market. Despite the Padres already having a high-caliber infield, they opted to sign Kim for the 2021 season to create an even more formidable combination of talent.
Following his signing of a four-year deal worth $28 million, the Padres organized a video conference on Tuesday to introduce Kim. He immediately made his ambitions clear, stating that the team is poised for a World Series run and that he is aiming for the Rookie of the Year title in 2021.
Kim began his interview by acknowledging the incredible skill set of the current Padres infielders, specifically mentioning Manny Machado, Jake Cronenworth, Fernando Tatis Jr., and Eric Hosmer. This led to a question about his motivation for joining a squad that already had returning starters in all four primary infield spots.
Kim replied that joining the San Diego Padres—whom he views as the best team in the MLB—is a true honor. He pointed to their massive offensive power and stellar pitching as the reasons he feels so optimistic about the upcoming 2021 season.
He went a step further, suggesting that the Padres aren't just contenders, but have what it takes to actually win the World Series this year. Speaking in Korean through an interpreter, the rookie emphasized that his desire to play for a winning organization is what drew him to San Diego. The Padres intend to utilize Kim's versatility across various infield positions to cover for injuries, manage player fatigue, or rotate during performance slumps.
Padres would want Kim to play in any position in infield since there’s plenty of room for a versatile infielder. The reasons could be that players get hurt, need rest days or a slump.
In a scenario where all five infielders are healthy and fighting for a starting role, the team mentioned that Kim could potentially see some action in the outfield.
Preller noted that once Spring Training begins with a full roster, the team will be operating at maximum capacity. He also mentioned that the team has prepared for a potentially shortened 60-game season, similar to the previous one, focusing on strategies to keep the players fresh throughout the grueling schedule.
last one and that the team as discussed about this and is confident of keeping their players fresh for this marathon.