Is Kim Ha-sung delaying his return to the big league again? Starting from the 2nd, the rehabilitation of starting second baseman for away shortstop is very encouraging TB
Jul 01, 2025
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MLB.com reported on the 1st (Korea time) 'When the Durham Bulls return from the off-day on the 1st, Kim Ha-sung will start as shortstop or second baseman'
Triple-A Durham, where Kim Ha-sung belongs, took a day off on the 1st after a six-game home series against the Memphis Redbirds (under the St. Louis Cardinals) last week. He will then play six consecutive away games (under the Baltimore Orioles) from the Norfolk tights (under the Baltimore Orioles) starting on the 2nd. In other words, Kim Ha-sung will start against Norfolk.
Earlier, the Tampa Bay Times, a leading media outlet in St. Petersburg, reported that "Kim Ha-sung, who finished his rehabilitation game with Triple-A Durham Bulls, is being evaluated for his possible return to the Major League."
Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said, `The club is very encouraged by Kim Ha-sung's rehabilitation process,' while Tampa Bay president Eric Nieder said `No immediate return has been decided.' It should be seen that there is still something to check.
Tampa Bay played the first of three consecutive home games against the Athletics on the day. If he plays two games remaining two to three days, he will take a four-day break and end the first half with 10 consecutive away games against the Minnesota Twins, Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox from the 5th.
Kim Ha-sung is expected to be able to join the away period at the earliest.
Tampa Bay joined the AL East in leading the race by posting 17 wins and 10 losses in June, tying for third place in monthly winning percentage among the 30 teams. As of today, he is 1.5 games behind the district's leading New York Yankees (48-36), with 47 wins and 38 losses, and is half a game ahead of the third-place Toronto Blue Jays (46-38). In other words, it can be said that it is leading the competition for thin ice rankings over the middle of the season.
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In this regard, local media Athlone Sports said, `Tampa Bay, which has recently been on the rise, can greatly strengthen its power toward its goal to advance to the playoffs this season if Kim Ha-sung joins the team.' He signed a two-year, $29 million contract last offseason and has yet to wear a Tampa Bay uniform. Because he had shoulder surgery last season.
The media then reported that the Tampa Bay shortstop was Jose Caballero and Taylor Walls. They are playing a gold glove-grade defense. It should be noted that Kim Ha-sung, who has quite good bat skills, can also provide the same level of defense and will show a much better batting performance that will actively lead the entire offense in Tampa Bay's central batting line.
Caballero and Walls are weak in attack. This season, Caballero has a batting average of 0.225 (43 hits in 191 at-bats), two homers, 24 RBIs, 28 runs, 29 steals, an OPS of 0.647, and Walls has a batting average of 0.207 (40 hits in 193 at-bats), two homers, 27 RBIs, 26 runs, 9 steals, and an OPS of 0.566, respectively.
Kim Ha-sung appeared in 20 games at Durham and marked a batting average of 0.194 (13 hits in 67 at-bats), five RBIs, 11 runs, 15 walks, nine strikeouts, five steals, and an OPS of 0.579. The batting performance itself doesn't mean much. It's important how healthy you played the offense and defense. As he underwent shoulder surgery, he is also a checkpoint whether he can throw completely as a shortstop. It seems that reports of no abnormalities have been raised across the two sectors.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
