2021 MLB Draft Guide Player Profile: Ha-Seong Kim

Ha-seong Kim will look to enjoy a successful transition from the KBO to Major League Baseball. Kim was an elite power and speed threat in the KBO, and his deal to come to the states guarantees him 28 million, and can top out at 39 million total, should the option in 2025 be picked up. In his seven years in the KBO, he notched double-digit home runs and stolen bases in five of those years, including a 30/20 season on his ledger. The versatile middle infielder posted a career .294 average and while he brings plenty of upside to San Diego, some concerns around his transition and playing time are detractors to pushing him up the board in fantasy baseball drafts, particularly redraft setups.

During his time in the KBO, he displayed excellent plate discipline. Since the start of 2016, he never posted a strikeout rate higher than 14.1 percent or a walk rate lower than 9.4 percent. His plate discipline peaked in 2020, when he posted a walk rate (12.1%) that was higher than his strikeout rate (10.9%). He will need to transition to the “stuff” he’ll see at the big league level here in the states, and while curveballs are curveballs, and sliders and sliders, the initial adjustment will be with the velocity. Pitchers throw hard in the MLB, where the fireballers are few and far between overseas.

In the KBO, he had a very polished offensive game, but the transition to Major League Baseball could be tough on the 25-year-old. Fortunately, his plate discipline skills are rather refined for his age, so even with a dry run to begin the year, he could still be a decent source of batting average. However, it’s been a mixed bag of results from players that have transitioned from the KBO to the MLB. Let’s take a look at a few of them, highlighting their final season in the KBO, and their rookie year in the MLB.

It’s kind of a mixed bag for results there. Jung Ho Kang was easily the most successful initially, but some off-field issues derailed his professional career in the states. It’s been a slow start in spring for Kim, but he’s young and there’s plenty of time to develop and reach his full potential.

The other thing working against Kim is that San Diego is a great landing spot for him, if he can get on the field. There’s a wealth of talent, and the team already has Jake Cronenworth and Jurickson Profar as super utility guys. If Kim isn’t hitting, it might be tough for him to get on the field, as he’s average at best defensively.

- Among the 21 qualified shortstops from 2018-2020, Kim’s .970 fielding percentage at shortstop would have tied Amed Rosario at 17th.

- Among the 14 qualified third baseman from 2018-2020, Kim’s .940 fielding percentage at third base would have bested only Rafael Devers (.932)

Fortunately, Profar and Cronenworth are below-average defensively away from second base, however, when looking at the Padres lineup, that’s the only real opening in the lineup. Kim doesn’t have a ton of experience at second base, whereas that is where Profar and Cronenworth have been the best defensively in their careers.

Kim has a lot of potential and projects to be a double-digit home run and stolen base guy in the majors, but I’m not convinced that 2021 is the year we see that. He’s going to take his lumps when he does get on the field, so it will likely be a slow go for him. However, young talent doesn’t grow on trees, and he’s certainly that.

Even at his current average draft position at pick 213, per NFBC data, I would temper expectations for 2021 and be wary of pushing him up draft boards, but for dynasty or deep keeper leagues, Kim is a preferred target.

Statistical Credits:
fangraphs.com
baseballsavant.mlb.com
baseball-reference.com