Kim Ha-seong becomes first-ever Korean to win MLB Gold Glove [REWIND 2023]

Baseball

Kim Ha-seong becomes first-ever Korean to win MLB Gold Glove [REWIND 2023]

Published: 28 Dec. 2023, 20:00

San Diego Padres second baseman Kim Ha-seong catches a popup by Oakland Athletics' Carlos Perez during the second inning of a game in Oakland, California on Sept. 16. [AP/YONHAP]

Kim Ha-seong of the San Diego Padres became the first Korean player ever to win an MLB Gold Glove in November, beating out competition from Mookie Betts and Tommy Edman after being nominated in two categories.

Kim was the second Korean to be a finalist for a Gold Glove, after Choo Shin-soo in right field in 2012, and the only Korean ever to win one.

That win also made Kim the only player ever to win both the MLB Gold Glove and the KBO Golden Glove — the KBO's version of the award that focuses more on offensive performance than defense — which he won three times from 2018 through 2020 as a shortstop when he played for the Kiwoom Heroes.

Kim shone in the 2023 season, finishing among the league leaders with +10 outs above average. He combined for 16 defensive runs saved, 10 at second, and three each at third and short. He played 106 games at second base, 32 at third and 20 at shortstop this season.

BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]