Kim matches longest hitting streak by participant born in Korea

PHOENIX — Ha-Seong Kim spent his first two Major League seasons attempting to ascertain himself. That has been emphatically achieved in 2023.

Kim has was one among San Diego’s most respected gamers. In the Padres’ 10-5 victory over the D-backs on Friday night time at Chase Field, his enhancements paid off with a global distinction.

Kim completed 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run, extending his hitting streak to 16 video games. Not solely is that the longest energetic hitting streak within the Majors, nevertheless it’s tied with Shin-Soo Choo for the longest MLB hitting streak by a participant born in South Korea. (Choo’s streak got here in 2013 for the Reds.)

Kim mentioned he was honored to have the ability to have such an enormous accomplishment, particularly with all of the Korean gamers he watched rising up.

“I just respect all of them that played through here,” Kim mentioned via interpreter Leo Bae. “All the Korean Major Leaguers that played here, I respect them. I watched them, and I wanted to be like them.”

When Kim received supplied a contract from the Padres in December 2020, he noticed it as a life-changing alternative. Not solely was it a major contract that will assist his household again house in South Korea, nevertheless it additionally meant he was going to play with the likes of Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado.

Being a newcomer to the Majors got here with a variety of studying. Plenty of individuals supplied Kim recommendation on easy methods to navigate the MLB, however he knew to get a really feel, he wanted to expertise it firsthand.

Often, he discovered himself watching from the dugout moderately than being a part of the motion, one thing he wasn’t accustomed to within the KBO. And when he received an opportunity to see the sphere, Kim wasn’t capable of absolutely capitalize on these alternatives — he had a slash line of .235/.306/.372 in his first two seasons within the Majors.

As pissed off as he was, he knew needed to put within the work to see his outcomes blossom.

“It’s just about believing in myself,” Kim mentioned. “I knew if I put my hard work every day and night in and out, eventually it was going to pay off. I just love trusting myself.”

Kim’s endurance on the plate is an important consider his success this season. He lowered his chase share (% of the time he swings at pitches out of the zone) from 24.9% final 12 months to 19.3%, which has helped up his stroll share to 12.9%, which is tied for the Sixteenth-highest amongst certified hitters.

He ranks within the prime 15 in each OBP (.382) and batting common (.290) amongst certified hitters.

Kim has supplied a much-needed spark since shifting atop of the lineup. Among NL hitters with 30 video games began within the leadoff spot, Kim ranks first in OBP (.434), fourth in slugging (.535) and third in batting common (.327).

But it’s not simply his offense that has made him one of many Padres’ most respected gamers. He has excelled defensively, as his +8 outs above common at second base this season is fifth within the Majors. He additionally charges nicely in baserunning metrics and has 27 stolen bases.

“It’s great,” Padres supervisor Bob Melvin mentioned. “… He’s been fantastic the entire season, probably our most consistent player.”

As a lot as Kim is grateful for these accomplishments, he cares extra about with the ability to assist his crew, which occurred on Friday. The Padres snapped a four-game dropping streak and the offense broke out for 14 hits. The Padres defeated one of many golf equipment forward of them in National League Wild Card standings.

“Eventually, [those streaks] are going to come to an end,” Kim mentioned. “I’m not trying to think about it too much. I’m trying to help the team win the ballgame every night.”