Kim Ha-sung (29, San Diego Padres) will be on the operating table to undergo shoulder surgery. Attention is focusing on not only failing to play in the postseason but also how it will affect next year’s free agent negotiations.
Citing San Diego Padres manager Mike Shield’s remarks on the 29th (Korea time), MLB.com , the official U.S. Major League Baseball website, said, “Kim Ha-sung will end this season with shoulder surgery.”
“Kim Ha-sung’s 2024 season is over. He will no longer participate,” Shildt said. “He will undergo surgery related to cartilage in his shoulder joint after the season ends.”
Kim Ha-sung was replaced by a sore shoulder during a game against the Colorado Rockies on the 19th of last month. At that time, Kim Ha-sung got on base with a hit in the third inning, but he tried to slide while returning to first base on the check ball of opposing pitcher Bradley Blaylock. Fortunately, he was not out, but the problem was next. Kim Ha-sung complained of great pain while clutching his right shoulder.
Concerns grew because it was “steel body” Kim Ha-sung, who rarely exaggerated and was not injured. Kim Ha-sung eventually couldn’t play on the ground anymore and was replaced. In the process of leaving the dugout, he threw his helmet on the floor. It was a scene where he felt sorry that he could no longer play in the game due to injuries.
Kim Ha-sung underwent an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) test at a hospital on the 20th, the next day after his injury. At that time, he did not appear to have been a major injury requiring surgery such as a broken bone. However, Kim Ha-sung was listed on the injured list for the first time since he entered the Major League after being diagnosed with inflammation of his right shoulder.
According to the San Diego Union-Tribune and 97.3 The Fan, Kim Ha-sung described his injury as “like a tear,” adding, “At first, I didn’t think it was a big injury. I thought I would be able to come back soon. I also worked hard on rehabilitation, but I’m so sad that I won’t be able to come back in the end. I tried to help him after returning to the team, but I couldn’t do my best. I feel disappointed and frustrated, too. Still, I thought I need to take the next step quickly for next season. I’m adjusting my schedule to get surgery as soon as possible.”
“San Diego is a family-like team that means a lot to me,” Kim Ha-sung said. “I have a great opportunity to win this year. Although I can’t be with the team this fall, I will sincerely support my teammates.”
Attention is now focusing on next year’s FA contract strategy. Kim Ha-sung entered the Major League ahead of the 2021 season. At the time, he signed a four-plus-one-year, maximum 39 million U.S. dollars contract with the San Diego Padres. It was a four-year, 28 million-dollar guarantee contract. And this is the last year of the four-year guarantee contract.
If Kim Ha-sung and San Diego execute their mutual options for the 2025 season, Kim Ha-sung could receive an annual salary of $8 million (about 10.5 billion won). However, with no news of the multi-year contract between San Diego and Kim Ha-sung still being heard, chances were high that he would go to the FA market ahead of next season. If they do not execute the mutual option, Kim Ha-sung only needs to receive a buyout amount of $2 million (about 2.6 billion won) and come to the FA market to be evaluated. 안전놀이터
Kim Ha-sung is a resource that is close to signing a major free agent contract. Above all, he can play various positions including shortstop, second baseman, and third baseman. Kim Ha-sung boasts the best defense capability in the Major League. He embraced his gold glove for the first time since turning into a second baseman last year. In the U.S., he is also considered the best utility player. MLB.com named him the best free agent in the off-season in 2025, ahead of the opening of this season, and he has proudly listed himself in the utility category. According to ESPN, some analysts say that Kim Ha-sung could sign a contract worth more than 200 million U.S. dollars.
He is also committed to offense and flagship strength. In 121 games this season, Kim had a batting average of 0.233 (94 hits in 403 times at bat), 11 homers, 47 RBIs, 60 runs scored, 58 walks, 77 strikeouts, 22 steals (five failed) and 0.330 on-base percentage, 0.370 on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) of 0.700.
In the end, the key will be whether a team that recognizes Kim Ha-sung’s true value will come out. If Kim believes that he will continue to perform as well as he did before after undergoing surgery, the team will be able to give a huge amount of money regardless of whether he gets surgery or not. However, if he gets surgery on his shoulder, all of these things could become uncertain. “The shortstop (Kim Ha-sung) who received the gold glove will come to the FA market with uncertainty,” said MLB Trade Rumors, a U.S. media outlet. “Multiple teams may hesitate to sign multi-year contracts (due to shoulder surgery). They may be concerned about the impact of his shoulder condition in the future.”
For now, the key is for Kim Ha-sung to recover as soon as possible after undergoing surgery and return to the ground normally. If he still shows his skills after undergoing shoulder surgery, Kim Ha-sung’s value will rise further. Kim Ha-sung said, “I haven’t thought much about it because of the situation I’m in now. After solving this problem, I’m only focusing on returning to a healthy state next season.”