The Padres' slick-defending, hard-hustling infielder talks about his adjustment to the big leagues, friendship with Manny Machado and bond with 'brother' Leo Bae
Infielder Ha-Seong Kim signed a four-year contract with the Padres at the end of 2020, after the Kiwoom Heroes of the Korean Baseball Organization posted Kim for the majors. Since his first season with the Padres, Kim has improved his batting average and OPS considerably, working each offseason to hit velocity not typically seen in Korea.
. His interpreter, Leo Bae, has been with him since his KBO days and translated this interview for the Union-Tribune.I started playing baseball really young. I had my family supporting me from when I was kid. They support me full time, you know, they love me. So now I feel like it’s kind of time to give them back all the love and all the support they gave me.AdvertisementThe biggest thing was, growing up, I had to be out of my house. I stayed in a dorm with the players really early.
Ha-Seong Kim, left, Jurickson Profar and Jorge Alfaro celebrate in the locker room after the team clinched a wild card playoff spot in 2022.You were such a big part of this team’s success last year, and again this year. Do you take pride in that?After my first year, I worked really hard in the offseason to get better, to take the next step. But the biggest thing for me was the first meeting with Bob in Spring Training. I remember it the most. I had a first meeting with Bob in his office.
San Diego Padres’ Ha-Seong Kim, right, celebrates with Manny Machado after hitting a home run on Thursday.Your teammates have really embraced you ever since you joined the Padres. Blake Snell and Manny Machado are always talking about how much they love you. Why do you think they gravitated toward you?Instead of talking about me, I think I want to talk about them because they are really good human beings. They’re really good teammates.
Bae, who is from Toronto, has known Kim since 2018, when he was with the Kiwoom Heroes as the team’s interpreter for their American pitching coach. After the 2019 season, Bae applied for an interpreter job with the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays offered him the job, so Bae left the Heroes and was preparing to move to St. Petersburg when the pandemic hit. The Rays eventually told him they couldn’t secure a visa and had to move on without him.
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