Korean infielder Hyeseong Kim has reportedly returned to Korea without finalizing a deal, despite receiving offers from five MLB teams, including the San Diego Padres.
Kim traveled to Los Angeles on November 29 to train and prepare for the posting process with support from his American agency, Creative Artists Agency (CAA). However, he returned to Korea on December 23 without securing a contract, and there was little attention surrounding the 25-year-old during his time in the U.S.
According to an official from the Kiwoom Heroes, Kim’s return was influenced by his military obligations. Although he was exempted from active duty after winning gold at the 2023 Asian Games, he must still complete 544 hours of community service over 34 months. After undergoing basic training in November, athletes in Kim’s situation are only permitted to stay abroad for limited periods.
Kim was posted for MLB teams on December 4 after the 2024 season with the Kiwoom Heroes in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO). Per the KBO-MLB posting agreement, posted players have 30 days to negotiate a contract, or they must return to the KBO for another season. Kim’s deadline to finalize a deal is 2 p.m. PST on Friday, or 7 a.m. Saturday in Korea. If no agreement is reached, he will not be eligible for posting again until November 1, 2025.
However, after another KBO season, Kim would become a free agent and could join an MLB team without going through the posting process.
Kim had an impressive 2024 season, setting career highs with 11 home runs, 75 RBIs, and a .458 slugging percentage. He batted .326, marking his fourth consecutive .300 season, and stole 30 bases, extending his streak of 20-plus steals to seven straight years. Since debuting in the KBO in 2017, Kim has posted a .306/.364/.403 career line with 211 steals, the most in the KBO since 2018.
The Padres are looking for another starting middle infielder due to the anticipated departure of Ha-Seong Kim and their reluctance to have Xander Bogaerts play shortstop regularly. Hyeseong Kim is known for his strong defense and primarily plays second base, though he also has experience at shortstop and third base.
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