Shohei Ohtani is undoubtedly capturing most of the spotlight as the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres gear up to kick off the MLB season with the first-ever regular season games in South Korea.
However, amidst the buzz surrounding Ohtani, the upcoming two-game “Seoul Series” holds special significance for Padres shortstop Ha-Seong Kim. For Kim, who is returning to a stadium he once called home, this marks a triumphant homecoming after a stellar season.
Having played for the Korea Baseball Organization’s Kiwoom Heroes for seven seasons before joining San Diego in 2020, Kim sees playing in the Gocheok Sky Dome again as a moment of “glory” for him. Despite the attention on Ohtani, Kim remains focused on helping his team kick off the season positively against their division rivals.
“When an MVP-level player joins a team, attention naturally gravitates towards them. However, our team has plenty of talented players, and I believe Korean fans will simply appreciate the fact that Major League Baseball is being played in Seoul,” Kim commented during a workout at the stadium on Tuesday.
With an impressive .260 batting average, 17 homers, 60 RBIs, and 38 steals last season, Kim solidified himself as one of the best defensive infielders in the National League.
Winning his first Gold Glove as a utilityman, he became the first player from East Asia to receive the award for defensive prowess.
Despite the Padres’ third-place finish in the NL West last season and the departure of key players like Juan Soto and Blake Snell, Kim is poised to take on a larger role this season. Under new manager Mike Shildt, Kim is being positioned as the team’s regular shortstop, with Xander Bogaerts moving to second base to accommodate the change.
During practice sessions leading up to the Seoul Series, Kim showcased his skills, hitting two home runs against reigning KBO champions LG Twins on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Ohtani, who had a challenging exhibition against Korean opponents, opted out of the optional workout on Tuesday.
As the Dodgers prepare for the season opener, other notable players like Mookie Betts and Tyler Glasnow were also seen honing their skills, illustrating the high stakes and anticipation surrounding the Seoul Series and the start of the MLB season.
