Ha-Seong Kim, by any rating, was one of the best and most complete infielders in the free agent market this winter. The Parents, by any evaluation, already had one of the best most complete fields. Obviously, this was not a deterrent. Quite the opposite, in fact. Kim and the Parents are clearly one
The Parents, by any evaluation, already had one of the best most complete fields.
Obviously, this was not a deterrent. Quite the opposite, in fact. Kim and the Padres are clearly a suitable match.
On Tuesday night, the Parents held an introductory video conference for Kim, who last week signed a four-year, $ 28 million deal. Immediately, Kim cut a confident figure, proclaiming the Fathers as world series contenders and setting the goal of winning the Rookie of the Year award in 2021.
Ha-Seong Kim’s dream is coming true in San Diego. pic.twitter.com/w7fIivzQHh
– San Diego Pares (@Padres) January 6, 2021
Kim began her press conference by reading a statement in which she tilted her cap to all the Parents starting in the field: Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr., Jake Cronenworth and Eric Hosmer, calling them “great talents”. Almost instantly, Kim was asked why she would choose to join a field with headlines back in all four places.
“The Fathers are not only a contender but [could] become the World Series champion this year, “Kim said in Korean through an interpreter.” I want to be part of a winning team. That’s why I joined the San Diego Padres. I can play any position on the field. “
This is precisely the role that parents want Kim to play. As you can see, there is plenty of room for a versatile stranger. Players get hurt. Players need days off. The players fall.
And, of course, if all five players on the Padres field are healthy at the same time and all five require a place in the starting lineup, it’s still possible that Cronenworth or Kim can take a look at the field of play. But this will be taken care of later.
“We’ll get to Spring Training, we’ll really start to dig deeper when we have everyone on the field,” Preller said. “We have a lot of confidence that we have players who will be able to move.
“Once again, it will also go from 60 games to [162] games. We talked about it a lot here as a group. Last year was really a sprint. This year he returns to the marathon. … We will keep our players fresh. “
Although Kim played on the short field and at third base mostly in Korea, he is likely to see most of his action at second base with the Padres. Kim could potentially serve in a platoon with Cronenworth left.
But Cronenworth brings a similar kind of versatility, as he played all four field positions last season. It seems more likely that both will continue to play regularly, as the Padres give their inside players – and perhaps their outside players – regular breaths by moving Cronenworth and Kim around the field.
“We’ll look at all the possible options and find out,” Preller said. “But, originally and right outside the door, we see [Kim] as an infielder “.
Kim’s glove is not at the level of Cronenworth, who is shaping up as a four-position linebacker. But the Padres expect an above-average defense from Kim at second base. They also expect great things on the plate. Kim hit .306 / .397 / .523 with 30 homers in the KBO last season.
It’s a whole addition to an offense that returns starters in all eight positions and has arguably the best baseball field. Kim quickly realized how eager she was to work with the current Padres infielders quartet.
“They’re great players,” he said. “They have more experience. Just by training with them and playing with them, I will learn and grow as a player.”
Kim devoted most of her press conference to staggering between conflicting emotions: humility for an opportunity she called “my dream” and an infinity of confidence she will make the most of.
Of course, there is no lack of trust in the field of the Fathers. As newly acquired left-hander Blake Snell pointed out last week, the Padres could be the “biggest” team in the league. Kim, whose bat rivals those of Tatis, clearly intends to join.
“It’s really my honor to join the San Diego Padres, the best baseball team in the Major Leagues, with tremendous firepower and excellent pitching,” Kim said. “2021 will be an amazing year, for me and for my parents.”
Dare. Nowadays, that’s how parents like it.
AJ Cassavell covers the MLB.com Fathers. Follow him on Twitter @ajcassavell.