It's ruined! Kim Ha-sung's sense of hitting that can't survive, and now he has no choice but to take the FA 3rd step
Aug 20, 2025
'Fall out!' Kim Ha-sung's batting sense that can't survive, now playing FA 3 without a choice
I didn't know that the chance to make a big FA hit would fly this far.
Tampa Bay Rays Kim Ha-sung's 'FA jackpot dream' seems to be moving further away. After 11 months of rehabilitation, he returned to the Major League, but his batting sense is still not recovering. The title of No. 1 in annual salary in the team ($13 million, about KRW 18.2 billion) is even overshadowed.
As a result, it is not mentioned at all even in the local 'preliminary FA evaluation' list. In fact, it means that even in the U.S., Kim Ha-sung is not expected to be able to appear in the FA market after the season. As a result, Kim Ha-sung is in a position to stay in Tampa Bay next year and seek the next opportunity. It has now become an essential process, not an option.
Kim Ha-sung started as the fifth shortstop in a home game against the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbranagh Field in Florida on the morning of the 20th (Korea time), but he was hitless in five at-bats. In the end, his batting average for the season fell from 0.228 to 0.214 (18 hits in 84 times at bat). Retaining 20% is in danger again. After that, if the hitless game continues only twice, the batting average of 20% will collapse.
The upward trend, which hit .400 (6 hits in 15 at-bats) in the previous four games, disappeared again. It is a pattern that has been repeated since returning to the Major League in early July. If you survive a little, you will be able to repeat your lethargic appearance.
Of course, the result of the no-hit game on the day was due to meeting 'natural enemy'. On this day, Yankees starter Carlos Rodon is a pitcher who is like a 'unbreakable barrier' for Kim Ha-sung. Until this day, Kim Ha-sung was completely blocked against Rodon with no hits in 10 at-bats. On this day, he met Rodon three times and all of them were hit. In the bottom of the first inning, with two outs and runners on the first and second bases, he only grounded out to the third base.
He then retired with a fly ball to left field at the bottom of the third inning and a ground ball to shortstop at the bottom of the sixth inning. The phenomenon of not being able to timing Rodon's ball at all is repeated. He was so thoroughly beaten by Rodon that he later went 0-for-2 against the Yankees bullpen.
More than a month after returning, Kim Ha-sung's batting sense is still unstable. Defense and baserunning are showing signs of recovery to some extent, but the hitting is not going as desired.
As a result, the plan to enter the FA market for the second time after the end of this season has become inevitable. This is because there is a strong possibility that no one will show interest in the market only when it comes to the market as it is now.
There was also an article predicting this atmosphere.
The Athletic, a global sports media, recently introduced the top 25 preliminary FA that will heat up the FA market in the winter of 2025~2026. Kim Ha-sung's name was not included in the list of 25. It simply didn't make the top 25 listIt should not be interpreted as '. The fact that it didn't get in here means that it's not a person that can affect the market at all. In other words, it is more appropriate to interpret that it will not receive attention only when it is on the market.
Just over a year ago, it was not such a disastrous situation. In June last year, just before the injury, Kim Ha-sung ranked eighth in the FA rankings selected by MLB Trade Rumors. It was evaluated in the local community that it would proudly rank in the top 10 and win '100 million in total'.
But this past has now become an old story. After returning too late from a shoulder injury, he revealed a fatal weakness in durability, including continuous injuries to his calf and waist. Above all, it doesn't hurt. Even considering the injury history, the batting average in the early 20% range is a serious weakness.
Kim Ha-sung signed a one-plus-one-year total of $29 million with Tampa Bay in February. It was a contract that could appear in the FA market as an opt-out after the 2025 season. But this option is now in name only. In reality, it is difficult to show any further reversal if you hit a multi-hit ball almost every game for the rest of the season to create a batting average of .300 and an OPS of at least .80% or more.
Now, it seems that we need to quietly strengthen our inner room for the stove league at the end of 2026. In short, Kim Ha-sung's plan to make the FA jackpot at the end of 2025 can be evaluated as 'shocked up.'"
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Tampa Bay Rays Kim Ha-sung's 'FA jackpot dream' seems to be moving further away. After 11 months of rehabilitation, he returned to the Major League, but his batting sense is still not recovering. The title of No. 1 in annual salary in the team ($13 million, about KRW 18.2 billion) is even overshadowed.
As a result, it is not mentioned at all even in the local 'preliminary FA evaluation' list. In fact, it means that even in the U.S., Kim Ha-sung is not expected to be able to appear in the FA market after the season. As a result, Kim Ha-sung is in a position to stay in Tampa Bay next year and seek the next opportunity. It has now become an essential process, not an option.
Kim Ha-sung started as the fifth shortstop in a home game against the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbranagh Field in Florida on the morning of the 20th (Korea time), but he was hitless in five at-bats. In the end, his batting average for the season fell from 0.228 to 0.214 (18 hits in 84 times at bat). Retaining 20% is in danger again. After that, if the hitless game continues only twice, the batting average of 20% will collapse.
The upward trend, which hit .400 (6 hits in 15 at-bats) in the previous four games, disappeared again. It is a pattern that has been repeated since returning to the Major League in early July. If you survive a little, you will be able to repeat your lethargic appearance.
|
He then retired with a fly ball to left field at the bottom of the third inning and a ground ball to shortstop at the bottom of the sixth inning. The phenomenon of not being able to timing Rodon's ball at all is repeated. He was so thoroughly beaten by Rodon that he later went 0-for-2 against the Yankees bullpen.
More than a month after returning, Kim Ha-sung's batting sense is still unstable. Defense and baserunning are showing signs of recovery to some extent, but the hitting is not going as desired.
|
There was also an article predicting this atmosphere.
The Athletic, a global sports media, recently introduced the top 25 preliminary FA that will heat up the FA market in the winter of 2025~2026. Kim Ha-sung's name was not included in the list of 25. It simply didn't make the top 25 listIt should not be interpreted as '. The fact that it didn't get in here means that it's not a person that can affect the market at all. In other words, it is more appropriate to interpret that it will not receive attention only when it is on the market.
Just over a year ago, it was not such a disastrous situation. In June last year, just before the injury, Kim Ha-sung ranked eighth in the FA rankings selected by MLB Trade Rumors. It was evaluated in the local community that it would proudly rank in the top 10 and win '100 million in total'.
|
Kim Ha-sung signed a one-plus-one-year total of $29 million with Tampa Bay in February. It was a contract that could appear in the FA market as an opt-out after the 2025 season. But this option is now in name only. In reality, it is difficult to show any further reversal if you hit a multi-hit ball almost every game for the rest of the season to create a batting average of .300 and an OPS of at least .80% or more.
Now, it seems that we need to quietly strengthen our inner room for the stove league at the end of 2026. In short, Kim Ha-sung's plan to make the FA jackpot at the end of 2025 can be evaluated as 'shocked up.'"
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
