Song Sung-moon's entry into the majors has two key competitors. They will appear in the Korea-Japan war

Oct 03, 2025

A game between Kiwoom and Lotte at Sajik Baseball Stadium in Busan on the 20th, and Kiwoom Song Sung-moon, with two outs and third base, hits an RBI timely hit in the top of the sixth inning. Busan = Reporter's wook@sportschosun.com/2025.09.20/

Two of the best third basemen in Japanese professional baseball will play in the Korea-Japan warm-up match ahead of the Major League challenge. They are the real competitors of Song Seong-moon.

Kiwoom Heroes infielder Song Sung-moon will challenge the Major League this fall through the posting system. Kiwoom, which finished this season at the bottom, wrapped up all game schedules with the match against the Gocheok SSG Landers on September 30, while Song Sung-moon will stay in Korea and continue his personal training after a short break.

Song Sung-moon, whose skills have soared in all aspects of offense and defense since last year, has also recorded the highest level of performance in the league this year, attracting the attention of major league clubs. As he was born in 1996, he showed a level of performance that can work in the major leagues, including power, speed, and defense, even if he is not young to challenge overseas. In fact, Major League scouts observed Song Sung-moon on the spot several times.

Officials believe that Song Sung-moon's chances of entering the U.S. are realistic. Another advantage for Song is that the U.S. evaluation of KBO fielders such as Kim Ha-sung, Lee Jung-hoo and Kim Hye-sung is not consistently bad. The key is conditions. Song Sung-moon is not a FA qualification, but a posting qualification, so Kiwoom must agree on the terms of the contract to advance. If he or she is only offered a disappointing level of conditions, he or she may choose to continue playing in Korea.

The match between the Hanwha Eagles and the Kiwoom Heroes at Hanwha Life Ball Park in Daejeon on the 14th. Kiwoom Song Sung-moon is defending. Daejeon = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2025.09.14/

There are inevitable competitors for such Song Seong-moon. They are two of the best big guns in the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).

Yakult Swallows' 'Home Run King'Murakami Munetaka and Yomiuri Giants' 'Franchise Big guns'Kamoto Kazuma is likely to challenge posting after the end of this season. Both players won the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC) and have already been recognized as the league's best big guns.

Murakami recorded the world's first five-in-a-row home run in the 2022 season, and that year, he became the youngest Japanese to record 56 home runs, the most ever.

Murakami Munetaka. Sports Chosun DB

He had injuries this year, but his batting pace has been good since his return. He also succeeded in recording more than 20 home runs for seven consecutive years.

Okamoto is also a franchise star who quenched Yomiuri's thirst for a 'domestic slugger' and hit more than 30 home runs in 2018-2023 in a row, and achieved 'career high' with 41 home runs in the 2023 season. However, this season, he left the team for a long time due to a ligament injury in his left elbow, returned in mid-August and hit 343, seven home runs and 24 RBIs.

Given the atmosphere of the Japanese league, which is an extreme pitching hitter, their performance looks even greater.

Kazuma Okamoto. Sports Chosun DB

Coincidentally, both of them overlap with Song Sung-moon in defensive positions. Murakami's main position is third base enough to play as a third baseman for the Japanese national team, and Okamoto can play first and third bases at the same time. The main position was first base until last year, but after returning from injury this year, he is playing third base in terms of his position in the team. Okamoto is the same age as Song Seong-moon, who was born in 1996, and Murakami was born in 2000.

According to Japanese media such as 'Daily Sports' on the 3rd, Murakami and Okamoto are scheduled to play in the warm-up match against the Korean national team at Tokyo Dome in Japan from the 15th to the 16th of next month. Both seem to see the Korea-Japan warm-up match as the final showcase ahead of their advance to the Major League. Song Sung-moon is also likely to be selected.

Japan's not only Murakami and Okamoto, but also Yomiuri's 'best finish' Daisei Ota has confirmed his trip to the Korea-Japan match.

This article was translated by Naver AI translator.