Ha-Seong Kim represents one of many greatest risk-reward performs of this yr’s free agent class. That did not look like it might be the case in August. For many of the season, Kim’s profile was constructed round stability. He wasn’t an enormous offensive menace, however his plus protection at shortstop and league common bat gave him a robust ground. Kim hadn’t had a single injured checklist stint since making the transfer from Korea, so sturdiness was going to be one in every of his greatest promoting factors.
That modified on August 18. Kim dove again into first base awkwardly on a pickoff try. He jammed his proper shoulder and went on the IL. The Padres initially introduced the damage as irritation and expressed hope he’d be again inside a pair weeks. Kim did not return and ultimately underwent a season-ending labrum restore.
Kim’s return timeline is up within the air, as is his free agent worth. It appears clear he will not be prepared for Opening Day. There’s not a lot identified past that. Agent Scott Boras has mentioned the 29-year-old might be prepared early within the ’25 marketing campaign. Padres president of baseball operations A.J. Preller was extra imprecise, saying final month that it could possibly be anytime round “Could, June, July.” Forecasting Kim’s market when there’s such a large variance on his return timeline is difficult. That is borne out within the excessive vary of pre-offseason contract predictions.
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