Biography

BIOGRAPHY

Ha-seong Kim was born October 17, 1995, in Bucheon, Gyeonggi. He is a shortstop in the MLB.

Before the start of the 2016 season, Kim signed a one-year ₩160 million contract extension with the Nexen Heroes. Kim played all 144 games in the 2016 regular season while batting 0.281 with 20 home runs, 28 base steals and 84 RBIs. Kim was selected an All Star for the second time in his third year. Kim was the starting shortstop at the 2016 KBO All-Star Game. He recorded his 20th home run on September 20, 2016 against the KIA Tigers. This home run made him the third shortshop in the history of KBO to ever record 20 home runs and 20 base steals in the regular season.

Kim won the KBO League Golden Glove Award in three consecutive years, from 2018 to 2020.

After the 2020 season, on November 25, 2020, the Heroes announced it was allowing Kim to enter the posting system to play in Major League Baseball (MLB).

On June 19, 2021, after the Padres lost their star player Fernando Tatis Jr. due to a suspected injury, Kim hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning and lead the Padres to a 7-5 victory against the Cincinnati Reds.

Kim finished the 2022 season with a .251 batting average, 11 home runs, 59 RBI, 12 stolen bases, and a .708 OPS in 150 games played. He mostly played as a shortstop in the season, filling in for Tatis Jr.