As soon as the ATL uniform is worn, Kim Ha-sung will face off against Korea and Japan, and No. 6 hitters are the most important! Cubs left-hander Imanaga pledges to avenge his death

Sep 03, 2025

As soon as the ATL uniform is worn, Kim Ha-sung will face off against Korea and Japan, and No. 6 hitters are the most important! Cubs left-hander Imanaga pledges to avenge his death
Kim Ha-sung was listed in the starting lineup as sixth shortstop against the Chicago Cubs, his first game since moving to Atlanta. Photo = Atlanta Braves Club X Account



Kim Ha-sung, who changed his uniform to the Atlanta Braves, took a heavy role as soon as he transferred.

Kim Ha-sung was listed in the starting lineup as the sixth shortstop in Game 2 of the three consecutive away games against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field at 8:40 a.m. on the 3rd.

Kim Ha-sung, who left the Tampa Bay Rays to Atlanta through a waver announcement the previous day, is on the ground as soon as he is released from the injured list (IL). Kim Ha-sung was on the IL due to back pain on the 21st of last month.




His actual appearance came 14 days after the game against the New York Yankees on August 20. Kim Ha-sung played in 24 games for Tampa Bay this season and marked a batting average of 0.214 (18 hits in 84 at-bats), two home runs, five RBIs, five runs, eight walks, 23 strikeouts, six steals, and an OPS of 0.611.

Atlanta Kim Ha-sung. Photo =MLB.com
What attracts attention is that the first pitcher Kim Ha-sung will face after the transfer is Shota Imana, the left-hander of the Cubs.

Imanaga is 8-6 with a 3.08 ERA in 20 games this season. He pitched 117 innings, gave up 87 hits and 22 walks, striking out 95. He is showing special pitching with a WHIP of 0.93 and a hit rate of 0.203 again this year. Last season, he pitched 173 ⅓ innings in 29 games, marking 15-3 with a 2.91 ERA and 174 strikeouts.




Even after rehabilitation due to a left hamstring injury from early May to the end of June, he is steadily playing his part, and has been in the process of quality starts for five consecutive games since August.

Kim Ha-sung faced Imanaga for the first time last year, and was unable to make it three at-bats with no hits and one strikeout. He met at Wrigley Field on May 8 and recorded a deep fly to right field in the second inning, a swinging strikeout in the fifth inning, and a deep fly to left field in the seventh inning, respectively. However, the fly in the second inning had a batting speed of 98.4 miles, a flying distance of 314 feet, and the fly in the seventh inning had a batting speed of 89.7 miles and a flying distance of 317 feet, which hit the center of the bat relatively well.

As soon as the ATL uniform is worn, Kim Ha-sung will face off against Korea and Japan, and No. 6 hitters are the most important! Cubs left-hander Imanaga pledges to avenge his death
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Shota Imanaga. AP Yonhap News
Kim Ha-sung, who had surgery after the season after injuring his shoulder in August last year when he was with the San Diego Padres, signed a two-year, $29 million contract with Tampa Bay in February and extended his rehabilitation, so he could not return until July 5. However, he also suffered from minor injuries in Tampa Bay, so he played irregularly and missed frequently, and he was in and out of the IL.




In the end, Tampa Bay released Kim Ha-sung, who was inefficient, with a waiver announcement, and Atlanta, a vulnerable shortstop, immediately filed a claim and the transfer was made. Kim Ha-sung will receive $2 million in the remaining annual salary this year and $16 million next year in Atlanta, and it is highly likely that he will give up his right to opt out after this season.

Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said he had liked Kim Ha-sung for a long time on the previous day. I'll use it as a shortstop. I can't wait to see it," he said, expressing anticipation.





This article was translated by Naver AI translator.