Prices have gone up a bit in one day! → Kim Ha-sung, who was likely to be the FA again, has a three-year, $65 million start

Sep 22, 2025

Prices have gone up a bit in one day! → Kim Ha-sung, who was likely to be the FA again, has a three-year, 65 million start
Atlanta Braves Kim Ha-sung has been hitting hard every day, signaling a big FA hit. The Athletic, a leading U.S. magazine, predicted that Kim Ha-sung will win at least $20 million (about 28 billion won) a year.

Kim Ha-sung started as the sixth hitter and shortstop against the Detroit Tigers in the 2025 Major League Baseball at Comerica Park in Detroit on the 22nd (Korea time). He swung one hit and two RBIs in three at-bats, including home runs. Atlanta won the game 6-2.


AP Yonhap News



'Prices went up a bit in a day.'

Atlanta Braves' Kim Ha-sung hit hard every day, signaling a big FA hit. The Athletic, a leading U.S. magazine, predicted that Kim Ha-sung will win at least $20 million (about 28 billion won) a year.

Kim Ha-sung started as the sixth batter and shortstop against the Detroit Tigers in the 2025 Major League at Comerica Park in Detroit on the 22nd (Korea time). He swung one hit and two RBIs in three at-bats, including home runs. Atlanta won the game 6-2.




Kim Ha-sung returned to his prime after moving to Atlanta. He hit two homers in 24 games in Tampa Bay this year, hitting only 2.14 percent on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) of 0.611. Tampa Bay released Kim Ha-sung on the 2nd. Atlanta caught Kim Ha-sung as if he was waiting. Kim Ha-sung later wore an Atlanta uniform and hit three home runs in 18 games with a .313 OPS of 0.839.

The Athletic said the best way for Atlanta to continue with Kim Ha-sung in 2026 is to offer a multi-year contract before he comes to the FA market. He predicted that $65 million (about 90.5 billion won) for three years will be the minimum number of writers.

Kim Ha-sung has the right to 'opt out' after this season. Earlier this year, he signed a one-plus-one-year, 29 million-dollar contract with Tampa Bay. Atlanta took over. Kim Ha-sung will decide whether to execute the contract in 2026, with an annual salary of $13 million in 2025 and $16 million in 2026. If you are confident of receiving more than $16 million, you can declare FA.




Prices have gone up a bit in one day! → Kim Ha-sung, who was likely to be the FA again, has a three-year, 65 million start
Sep 19, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Atlanta Braves shortstop Ha-Seong Kim (9) loses control of the ball while trying to spin and throw out Detroit Tigers shortstop Javier B?ez (not pictured) on a ground ball up the middle in the fifth inning at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images
Prices have gone up a bit in one day! → Kim Ha-sung, who was likely to be the FA again, has a three-year, 65 million start
Atlanta Braves shortstop Ha-Seong Kim throws out Detroit Tigers' Dillon Dingler at first during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Prices have gone up a bit in one day! → Kim Ha-sung, who was likely to be the FA again, has a three-year, 65 million start
Atlanta Braves' Ha-Seong Kim celebrates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
At the time of the transfer to Atlanta, Kim Ha-sung was so sluggish that it was considered natural to execute the option. Rather, the prevailing assessment was that Atlanta took a gamble. However, the situation changed 180 degrees as Kim Ha-sung fully recovered his skills in his heyday.

Now, Kim Ha-sung is 'Gap'. The Athletic can also offer a one-year contract at a much higher salary than '16 million. There is also a way to stay in Atlanta and then seek the FA after the end of the 2026 season. It is positive that Kim Ha-sung has perfectly adapted to the Atlanta clubhouse. Still, if Atlanta does not make a competitive proposal, it is unlikely that Kim Ha-sung will remain.





This article was translated by Naver AI translator.