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Padres' manager Shildt praises Kim Ha-seong as 'baller' for all-around excellence

Published: 16 Mar. 2024, 17:49

JIM BULLEY
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San Diego Padres manager Mike Shildt attends a news conference at Gocheok Sky Dome in western Seoul on Saturday. [AP/YONHAP]

When San Diego Padres manager Mike Shildt sees his Korean shortstop Kim Ha-seong, he sees a ball player in the truest sense of the word.

"This guy is just a baller," Shildt said of Kim at a press conference Saturday at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, where the Padres will face the Los Angeles Dodgers in MLB's Seoul Series on Wednesday and Thursday. These will be the first two MLB regular season games in Korea.

Shildt spoke at length about how Kim went through an adjustment period after coming over from Korea before the 2021 season and emerged as an elite player.

"I'm telling you something this room already knows but there was an adjustment period for him when he got to the States. The velocity, I think he'll admit that," Shildt said. "Clearly, he worked on it. His hitting is better. He uses the whole field. He's got a good idea about situational hitting. He's got some pop in his bat."

And this was before Shildt even got to discussing Kim's defense, which netted him a Gold Glove at the utility position last year.

San Diego Padres' Kim Ha-seong looks on during a baseball workout at Gocheok Sky Dome in western Seoul on Saturday. [AP/YONHAP]

"He's played outstanding defense, really probably since Day 1, and he's now become the top of the line major league shortstop," the manager said. "He should be in consideration for another Gold Glove at that position. Also he's a good base runner. I don't think that gets talked about enough. This guy's really good on the bases. The effort level is high but also the instincts and the aggression, they marry each other. So, just an overall good player that has a chance to beat the other team in a lot of different ways."

In 2023, Kim split his time at second base, third base and shortstop. The Padres have already announced Kim will be their primary shortstop in 2024 and Shildt said there will be no more moves around the diamond this time.

"He's our shortstop. He played shortstop really well for us in 2022, finished top three in the Gold Glove two years ago," Shildt said. "And then he was a good teammate last year, moved around second, short and third. He did a tremendous job, obviously, and won a utility man Gold Glove. We made the decision to put him back at shortstop and we're excited about it. He's clearly an elite defender and he's a big part of our club."

The Seoul Series is a homecoming for Kim in more ways than one. In addition to playing in his native country, Kim is playing games at the very stadium that he called home for his final five seasons in the KBO with the Kiwoom Heroes.

"To be able to come and play in a ballpark that he played in professionally and to come over and then to come back to represent Korea with the Major League Baseball team is quite special and obviously historic," Shildt said.

Before taking the San Diego job, Shildt managed another Korean player, pitcher Kim Kwang-hyun, while with the St. Louis Cardinals from 2020 to 2021.

With Kim scheduled to appear as a guest commentator during the Seoul Series, Shildt said it would be "fantastic" to reconnect with his former player.

"I'm sure he's doing great," Shildt said. "He's a good guy. He's a really good pitcher."

Yonhap