Major league teams with weak infield defense are eyeing Ha-seong Kim.
Exploding in popularity in the trade market due to ‘luxury defense’ recognized by the Major League… “The best trade card the club has” with performance six times the price.
The batter scores a run and the pitcher gets an out. What is missing from this sentence explaining the basics of baseball is the presence of fielders who assist the pitcher in catching outs. Strikeouts that a pitcher achieves on his own account for about one-third of all outs, and the rest require help from fielders.
In 1966, the Los Angeles Dodgers had the best one-two punch of Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale. Although the Dodgers lacked home run power, their ability to break the game with bunts was outstanding. However, the Dodgers lost to Baltimore in the World Series. Dodgers manager Walter Allston revealed that the reason for the loss was “because I couldn’t bunt.” At third base in Baltimore was Brooks Robinson, nicknamed 'The Human Vacuum Cleaner.' The 16 Golden Gloves won by Robinson ranks first among all fielders, excluding pitchers.
breaking away from home run and RBI supremacy, awards MVP to a
great defender. Ozzie Smith (St. Louis Cardinals), who boasted the best shortstop defense of all time, was called the ‘Wizard of Oz.’ Smith's career 13 Golden Glove awards were second only to Robinson, but his slugging ability dropped to the point where he only hit 28 home runs over 19 years of playing. Smith only hit two home runs in 1989. On the other hand, Kevin Mitchell of the San Francisco Giants recorded 47 home runs and 125 RBIs and became the home run king and RBI king.
Among Smith and Mitchell in 1989, it was Smith who contributed more to the team. Smith's wins compared to substitutes (hereinafter referred to as win contribution) were 7.3, while Mitchell's was 6.9, putting Smith ahead. While Smith prevented numerous runs with excellent defense, Mitchell's unstable outfield defense led to additional runs. However, in those days when the importance of defense was overlooked, a player was considered best if he had the most home runs and RBIs. While Mitchell won the National League MVP, Smith did not receive a single vote.
A long-standing concern in baseball, which prides itself on being a sport of records, has been that it is difficult to objectify the contribution of defense compared to offense. The player who hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the 9th inning when the team was down 0-15 was awarded 2 RBIs, but the fielder who caught what would have been a walk-off hit with the bases loaded and 1 out in the bottom of the 9th inning with a 1-0 lead and preserved the win did not receive proper compensation. Even in the attack, the previous process was ignored, and only the player who reaped the fruit of the RBI was praised. However, with the development of statistics and technology, it became possible to value every play a player makes on the baseball field, moving away from the supremacy of home runs and RBI. Even 10 years ago, it was difficult to imagine Mike Trout, who hit 29 home runs and 100 RBIs in 2016, beating Edwin Encarnacion, who hit 42 home runs and 127 RBIs, to win MVP.
great defender. Ozzie Smith (St. Louis Cardinals), who boasted the best shortstop defense of all time, was called the ‘Wizard of Oz.’ Smith's career 13 Golden Glove awards were second only to Robinson, but his slugging ability dropped to the point where he only hit 28 home runs over 19 years of playing. Smith only hit two home runs in 1989. On the other hand, Kevin Mitchell of the San Francisco Giants recorded 47 home runs and 125 RBIs and became the home run king and RBI king.
Among Smith and Mitchell in 1989, it was Smith who contributed more to the team. Smith's wins compared to substitutes (hereinafter referred to as win contribution) were 7.3, while Mitchell's was 6.9, putting Smith ahead. While Smith prevented numerous runs with excellent defense, Mitchell's unstable outfield defense led to additional runs. However, in those days when the importance of defense was overlooked, a player was considered best if he had the most home runs and RBIs. While Mitchell won the National League MVP, Smith did not receive a single vote.
A long-standing concern in baseball, which prides itself on being a sport of records, has been that it is difficult to objectify the contribution of defense compared to offense. The player who hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the 9th inning when the team was down 0-15 was awarded 2 RBIs, but the fielder who caught what would have been a walk-off hit with the bases loaded and 1 out in the bottom of the 9th inning with a 1-0 lead and preserved the win did not receive proper compensation. Even in the attack, the previous process was ignored, and only the player who reaped the fruit of the RBI was praised. However, with the development of statistics and technology, it became possible to value every play a player makes on the baseball field, moving away from the supremacy of home runs and RBI. Even 10 years ago, it was difficult to imagine Mike Trout, who hit 29 home runs and 100 RBIs in 2016, beating Edwin Encarnacion, who hit 42 home runs and 127 RBIs, to win MVP.
It is a great blessing for Kim Ha-seong to be playing in an era where the value of defense is not overlooked. Ha-seong Kim, who had 8 home runs and 6 stolen bases in 2021 and 11 home runs and 12 stolen bases in 2022, recorded 17 home runs and 38 stolen bases this year. His 38 stolen bases ranks fifth in the National League. It was unfortunate that he was unable to achieve the team's first 20 home runs and 40 stolen bases due to a decline in stamina at the last minute because he was on the most rigorous business trip in the team, but it was not enough to say that he was a great player.
There was ample compensation. Since he signed a multi-year contract, despite his outstanding performance this season, Kim Ha-seong's annual salary next year is $8 million. But the evaluation has completely changed. Ha-Seong Kim won the 'Heart and Hustle Award', given to the player who sets the best example, as voted on by his teammates. Following last year's shortstop, this year he was among the final three Golden Glove winners at second base and utility, and won the utility category award, defeating superstar Mookie Betts (LA Dodgers). It was the first time in history that an Asian infielder received the award.
Ha-Seong Kim's offensive contribution ranked 16th among National League fielders. His defensive contributions were even better, ranking him 7th. As a result, Kim Ha-seong's victory contribution of 5.8 ranks 7th among all fielders in the National League. In the Major League, a win contribution of 1.0 is set at $7 million, so Ha-seong Kim's performance this year is equivalent to $40.6 million. Ha-seong Kim’s annual salary this year is $7 million. Being a player worth six times his own price, his popularity in the winter transfer market is also huge. USA Today also selected Kim Ha-seong, not Juan Soto, as the best trade card possessed by the San Diego team.
There was ample compensation. Since he signed a multi-year contract, despite his outstanding performance this season, Kim Ha-seong's annual salary next year is $8 million. But the evaluation has completely changed. Ha-Seong Kim won the 'Heart and Hustle Award', given to the player who sets the best example, as voted on by his teammates. Following last year's shortstop, this year he was among the final three Golden Glove winners at second base and utility, and won the utility category award, defeating superstar Mookie Betts (LA Dodgers). It was the first time in history that an Asian infielder received the award.
Ha-Seong Kim's offensive contribution ranked 16th among National League fielders. His defensive contributions were even better, ranking him 7th. As a result, Kim Ha-seong's victory contribution of 5.8 ranks 7th among all fielders in the National League. In the Major League, a win contribution of 1.0 is set at $7 million, so Ha-seong Kim's performance this year is equivalent to $40.6 million. Ha-seong Kim’s annual salary this year is $7 million. Being a player worth six times his own price, his popularity in the winter transfer market is also huge. USA Today also selected Kim Ha-seong, not Juan Soto, as the best trade card possessed by the San Diego team.
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