Padres' Kim Ha-seong collects 1st MLB hit, RBI

▲ This Associated Press file photo from March 27, 2021, shows Kim Ha-seong of the San Diego Padres in spring training action against the Los Angeles Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. (Yonhap)

MLB-hitter

Padres' Kim Ha-seong collects 1st MLB hit, RBI

By Yoo Jee-ho

SEOUL, April 4 (Yonhap) -- It was a day of firsts for the San Diego Padres' South Korean infielder Kim Ha-seong.

In his first major league start against the Arizona Diamondbacks in San Diego on Saturday (local time), Kim also picked up his first hit and RBI.

Kim got the start at second base and batted sixth at Petco Park. Kim had come off the bench on Opening Day on Thursday but struck out swinging. He sat out the next game before getting the call to start the game Saturday.

With the regular first baseman Eric Hosmer taking the day off, the usual second baseman Jake Cronenworth slid over to first base, leaving second base open for Kim.

Kim stepped up with two outs in the first, and the Padres were up 1-0 with runners at first and second base against starter Caleb Smith. Kim fell behind 0-2 in the count, but fouled off a pitch before taking three straight balls.

Kim then drilled a four-seam fastball, clocked at 91.8 miles per hour, through the hole in left to drive Wil Myers in from second base.

Kim signed a four-year, US$28 million contract with the Padres in December, following seven successful seasons with the Kiwoom Heroes in the Korea Baseball Organization.

In Korea, Kim had mostly played shortstop, with some cameo appearances at third base, but the Padres see him as a utility man. The left side of the infield is already accounted for, with MVP candidate Manny Machado at the hot corner and up-and-coming franchise star Fernando Tatis Jr. manning shortstop.

Cronenworth, a finalist for the Rookie of the Year award last year, beat Kim for the regular second base gig in spring training, as the South Korean batted only 7-for-42 with no extra-base hits.

Kim saw action in four different positions during spring: second base, shortstop, third base and left field.

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