The Cincinnati Reds have made a couple of strikes this offseason to try to enhance their squad for 2025. The massive strikes, although, have come from trades – buying beginning pitcher Brady Singer from the Kansas Metropolis Royals for Jonathan India and minor leaguer Joey Wiemer, and buying and selling for backup catcher Jose Trevino by sending the New York Yankees reliever Fernando Cruz and minor league catcher Alex Jackson. They haven’t dabbled in free company but, however the newest rumor is that they’re serious about Korean infielder Hyeseong Kim.
Sports activities N Plus – a Korean Youtube channel – is reporting that there are a number of groups which have made gives to infielder Hyeseong Kim and that the Cincinnati Reds are a kind of golf equipment. We received’t have to attend very lengthy till to learn the way it performs out as Kim should have an settlement by January third at 5pm ET. That’s Friday.
Given his age and expertise he’s thought of a giant league free agent and may signal with any staff for as a lot cash and as a few years as they are going to supply him. MLB Commerce Rumors projected him for a 3-year deal for a complete of $24,000,000 earlier within the offseason. Sports activities N Plus talked about one thing nearer to 3 years and $20,000,000. Nonetheless, that’s simply what a staff must pay Kim. If he indicators for underneath $25,000,000 the signing staff will even need to pay 20% of the contracts worth to the Kiwoom Heroes of the Korea Baseball Group. At $25,000,000 that may be $5,000,000 – so signing for lower than that, it might clearly be cheaper.
As for Hyeseong Kim and what he might deliver to the staff he’s thought of extra of a defensive participant on the huge league stage than a hitter. The soon-to-be 26-year-old is coming off of his two greatest offensive seasons. In 2023 he hit .335/.396/.446 with seven residence runs in 137 video games and in 2024 he hit .326/.383/.458 with a profession excessive 11 residence runs in 127 video games.
The Korean Baseball Group is a bit hitter pleasant. In 2024 the league common OPS was .772 (it was .712 in 2023). The league had 56% extra residence runs in 2024 than that they had in 2023, so one thing actually modified this previous season inside the league. Former Cincinnati Pink Matt Davidson, who hit .210/.273/.425 in 2023 whereas taking part in in Japan, hit .306/.370/.633 with a league greatest 46 residence runs in 2024 whereas within the KBP – simply to provide some added context of issues.
The place Kim stands out a bit extra on the offensive aspect of issues is on the bases. He’s stolen 211 bases and has been caught simply 37 occasions in his 952 sport profession courting again to when he was an 18-year-old with Nexen. He has velocity and he does appear to know the right way to use it nicely.
Defensively he’s performed a number of spots. In his first 4 seasons he solely play on the infield and virtually all of that got here at second base and shortstop. However in 2020 he noticed motion in 44 video games in left area. Since then he hasn’t performed within the outfield and has been restricted to time at shortstop and second.
Along with his lack of energy it’s robust to see him as an daily participant on a staff the place everybody else is wholesome. However together with his velocity, defensive versatility, and maybe his contact potential (he struck out simply 62 occasions in 567 plate appearances – although it’s but to be recognized how that may translate in opposition to huge league pitching) – he might profile as a strong bench participant.
You may see the profession stats for Hyeseong Kim right here.
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