There will be no more talk of trading Ha-Sung Kim (San Diego Padres). If they did, the San Diego fans would rise up.
Whenever Kim steps up to the plate, fans chant “Ha Sung Kim!” so loudly that you can hear it from as far away as Petco Park. He is arguably the most beloved player in San Diego.토토사이트
Kim has been one of San Diego’s standout performers this season. Xander Bogaerts has forgotten how to hit, Jake Cronenweth and Darvish Yu, who were gifted extensions to push him to second base, haven’t quite hit their stride.
However, Kim Ha-Sung is the only one who seems to be getting better every year. Some fans have said, “He’s the only one who is breaking out in a lackluster organization.” The truth is that Kim is the only one who stands out.
Kim isn’t a home run machine. But he does hit the big one when it counts. The same goes for his great defense. That’s what fans love about him.
One fan raved about his evolution every year. He compared Kim’s patience at the plate from 2021 to this season.
According to this, Kim’s swing rate at pitches was 31.6% in 2021, dropped to 24.6% in 2022, and is even lower this year at 18.9%.
His chase rate (the rate at which he swings at or makes contact with pitches outside the strike zone) was 24.2 percent in 2021 and dropped to 19.3 percent this year.
The strikeout rate was 7.4% in 2021, rising to 8.8% in 2022, and even better this year at 12.2%.
Patience at the plate had a direct impact on batting average and slugging percentage. I went from a .202 batting average and .270 slugging percentage in 2021 to .251 and .325, respectively, in 2022. So far this year, they’re at 0.278 and 0.369, respectively.
His power has also improved. He hit 11 home runs in 2022, compared to just eight in 2021, and 16 this year.
After stealing just six bases in 2021, he stole 12 in 2022 and 27 this year.
His defense has also been stellar, making him a strong Golden Glove candidate at second base this season and a top-five candidate for National League MVP.
The Padres, who were once eager to trade him, will now have to keep an eye on him and figure out what kind of deal they want to offer him.