Headlines

  • Braves Release Alex Verdugo
  • Clarke Schmidt Expected To Undergo Tommy John Surgery
  • Top 40 Trade Candidates For The 2025 Deadline
  • Rays Reinstate Ha-Seong Kim
  • Yankees Have Shown Interest In Ryan McMahon
  • Brandon Woodruff To Start For Brewers On Sunday
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

Remove Ads
  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Guardians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2025 Trade Deadline Outlook Series
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Agency Database
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Hyun Soo Kim On MLB Future

By Steve Adams | October 20, 2017 at 9:11am CDT

Outfielder Hyun Soo Kim returned to his native South Korea upon conclusion of the regular season and met with the media to discuss what was, in his own words, a “disappointing” second season in the Majors (link via Jee-ho Yoo of the Yonhap News Agency). Despite a rough campaign split between the Orioles and the Phillies, the 29-year-old Kim made it clear that his hope is to secure another opportunity to prove himself in the Major Leagues.

“It’s not something I can control,” Kim told reporters. “Obviously, I’d love to stay in the majors. But I felt my determination alone can’t do the trick. I’ll just try to do the best I can.”

Kim signed a two-year, $7MM contract with the Orioles in the 2015-16 offseason on the heels of an amazing nine-year career in the Korea Baseball Organization. In 4768 plate appearances with the KBO’s Doosan Bears, Kim batted .318/.406/.488 with 142 home runs, earning the nickname “The Hitting Machine” along the way. That nickname looked rather appropriate after Kim’s first season in Baltimore; he slashed a hearty .302/.382/.420 with six homers, 16 doubles and a triple in 346 plate appearance with the Orioles.

Kim, though, was shielded almost entirely from left-handed pitching in the Majors, and a slow start to the 2017 season (plus Trey Mancini’s early breakout) led to even more inconsistent playing time. He hit just .232/.305/.288 in 141 PAs with the O’s before being traded to the Phillies in late July — largely as a means of offsetting some of the salary of Jeremy Hellickson, who went from Philadelphia to Baltimore in that deal.

Playing time was even more scarce for Kim in Philadelphia, as the Phillies were evaluating younger options such as Nick Williams, Aaron Altherr and Rhys Hoskins in the outfield corners throughout the season’s second half. Ultimately, Kim’s sophomore campaign in the Majors produced a paltry .231/.307/.292 triple slash.

Kim took ownership of his struggles when speaking to the Korean media, though he did indicate that his part-time/platoon usage was a role to which he had a difficult time adjusting. “It was frustrating when I’d get three hits one day and sit on the bench the next day,” Kim admitted. “But it’s all on me. I just didn’t have it.”

Kim didn’t dismiss the notion of accepting a minor league contract when asked about a possible return to the Majors, but he noted that it would depend on the composition of the interested team’s roster. His time in Philadelphia made clear to him that at-bats will be difficult to come by on an up-and-coming team that is rife with outfield prospects ready for big league evaluation. A clearer path to playing time than the one he had in Philadelphia sounds as if it’ll be important to Kim when weighing offers this winter.

If there are ultimately no offers to his liking, it stands to reason that he would draw widespread interest from KBO clubs in free agency. But, Kim is still relatively young — he’ll play all of next season at the age of 30 — and is just a year removed from a 116 OPS+ and 120 wRC+ in nearly 350 MLB plate appearances. He’s demonstrated solid plate discipline and contact skills in the Majors as well, walking in 9.9 percent of his plate appearances while striking out at a 16.6 percent clip. While his defense didn’t grade out well in left field, there’s still reason to believe he could be a productive bat — at least in the same platoon capacity he had with the O’s in 2016.

Share 0 Retweet 10 Send via email0

Baltimore Orioles Philadelphia Phillies Hyun-soo Kim

Dugout Notes: Cora, Baker, Phils, Wedge, Sveum, A’s, Chili
Main
NL Central Notes: Jay, Peraza, Glasnow
View Comments (20)
Post a Comment

20 Comments

  1. jdgoat

    8 years ago

    I do hope he gets another opportunity. It seemed like Showalter hated him for some reason this year. With close to everyday at bats, I don’t see why he can’t revert back to his 2016 season output.

    2
    Reply
    • mstrchef13

      8 years ago

      Showalter didn’t use him because (A) Mancini was better, (B) Seth Smith was better, (C) Trumbo was coming off a season where he led the majors in HRs, and (D) Kim is a poor OF, having a good glove but limited range, poor route taking, and a below average arm. He showed offensively in 2016 that he could hit, but he has limited power, doesn’t do well against power fastballs or left handers, and is slow on the basepaths. He’s basically Seth Smith, but a little weaker in all facets of the game. No one in the organization knew that Mancini was going to adjust to hitting MLB pitching and playing LF the way he did, but when he did it was Kim that was the odd man out. It is unfortunate, because I think that the O’s could have used what Kim brought to the table, but all things being equal (and they weren’t), Showalter would have been loathe to put Smith and KIm in the outfield together on a regular basis.

      5
      Reply
      • dimitriinla

        8 years ago

        This year regarding Kim should be distinguished from last year. Back really seemed to be displeased with the guy, which I don’t think helped his confidence or acclimation at all. And yet he had scratches in 2016 where he hit wonderfully — using the entire field and really seeming to get on base a lot. To see him be so distrusted by Buck was really disappointing, ultimately leaving more questions than answers.

        Reply
        • Jbigz12

          8 years ago

          Has anyone seen hyun soo Kim’s defense in the outfield? He has no arm whatsoever. He doesn’t have a whole lot of power. He knows how to take a walk and he runs okay. Best case scenario he’s a 1 WAR player who can’t hit lefties, though I doubt he’s that. He didn’t show any power in Camden yards or citizens bank. They’re pretty good hitting parks

          4
          Reply
      • attgig

        8 years ago

        he also regularly played Craig Gentry and Joey Rickard ahead of Kim. After 2016, I would’ve expected a regular platoon for Kim at the very least… he wasn’t even offered that.

        2
        Reply
    • marlins1993

      8 years ago

      Good post.

      Reply
  2. Caseys Partner

    8 years ago

    Matt Stairs said Kim has a lot of unrealized power that he can easily exhibit in BP but Kim needs to make changes to his approach at the plate to make that power come out. That’s what’s really missing. If Kim had a .200 ISO he would be desirable.

    3
    Reply
    • marlins1993

      8 years ago

      That seems to be the acceptable dig against foreign players. Not enough power or not enough Ichiro.

      MLB teams still have not learned to accept Asian players. It’s not racism, it’s just baseball?

      Kim slashed 302/382/420 his first year of MLB pitching.

      Reply
      • Jbigz12

        8 years ago

        How is it not accepting them? Hyun soo Kim won’t be much of a ball player without a little pop in his bat. He’s a minus defensively and he’s not a threat on the bases. It’s a legitimate issue. IF he could repeat his first year he’d be a fringe 4th OF option/platoon player but he can’t play center field. He had a 345 babip his first year and he played in Camden yards. Hard for me to believe that’s not his ceiling.

        1
        Reply
      • Modified_6

        8 years ago

        Of course, everything is racist or offensive in 2017. It couldn’t have anything to do with his poor performance.

        2
        Reply
      • thecoffinnail

        8 years ago

        And Kevin Maas hit .252/.367/.535 with an OPS+ of 150 his first year of MLB pitching..

        Jerome Walton and Tuffy Rhodes also come to mind..

        Reply
    • Jbigz12

      8 years ago

      .200 ISO would nearly double what he did in his first year. Before his last year in the KBO he wasnt even a 20 hr guy. 20 hr guys in the KBO rarely if ever hit that many in the majors. He’s not posting a .200 ISO. He looks like he could be Seth Smith at best. His arm truly is terrible, he’d have to hit his way into the lineup and I don’t see him suddenly becoming a guy with pop/

      1
      Reply
  3. Solaris601

    8 years ago

    Kim was one of those bones of contention between Showalter and the front office. They signed him to a 2-year contract, and I remember very early in spring training 2016 he fell out of favor with Showalter, and he was pretty much placed at the end of the bench from that point on.

    1
    Reply
    • thecoffinnail

      8 years ago

      Didn’t they try to send him to AAA after his horrible spring but because of a clause in his contract he was able to refuse the assignment? Telling Showalter he was not going to be cut probably didn’t help win the old skipper over..

      2
      Reply
      • Solaris601

        8 years ago

        I gotta think that once Showalter got a sample of Kim’s skills he called Dombrowski immediately and said, “Did you guys even bother to scout this Kim before signing him? I hear they called him “The Hitting Machine” in Korea. I wanna submit a work order because this hitting machine ain’t workin.”

        Reply
        • mehs

          8 years ago

          Why would Showalter call Dombrowski?

          1
          Reply
  4. cygnus2112

    8 years ago

    With slash lines like that, he’d be studly in the Giants OF, lol!

    For real though, if he’s producing like he did in 2016, he’s worthy of a contract and maybe that would be a team like SF who I would imagine they’d be heavy on pursuing all options for the outfield….

    Reply
  5. Sid Bream

    8 years ago

    I don’t think he’s that poor an outfielder.

    mlb.com/video/kims-diving-play-robs-gurriel/c-1430…

    Furthermore, I don’t think he’s been given a chance. In his 2nd year he rarely played consistently, and consequently of course his average took a hit. Playing every other day or playing a day and not playing for 3 is not conducive to productive hitting in any league.

    Reply
    • Jbigz12

      8 years ago

      One Diving catch, nice. He’s a bad outfielder. A runner on 2nd and a single hit in Kim’s direction is a run every time. He’s not throwing anyone out, the arm is bad.

      3
      Reply
    • mehs

      8 years ago

      6 steps and a clumsy dive does not a great outfielder make. A good outfielder doesn’t even need to make a dive on such a play.

      2
      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.

Log in Register

    Top Stories

    Braves Release Alex Verdugo

    Clarke Schmidt Expected To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

    Top 40 Trade Candidates For The 2025 Deadline

    Rays Reinstate Ha-Seong Kim

    Yankees Have Shown Interest In Ryan McMahon

    Brandon Woodruff To Start For Brewers On Sunday

    Royals Interested In Bryan Reynolds

    Rangers Option Josh Jung

    Kevin Pillar Announces Retirement

    Braves Place Spencer Schwellenbach On IL With Elbow Fracture

    Giants Exercise 2026 Option On Manager Bob Melvin

    Yordan Alvarez Shut Down Due To Setback With Hand Injury

    Astros Place Jeremy Peña On Injured List With Fractured Rib

    Tucker Barnhart To Retire

    Tyler Mahle To Be Sidelined Beyond Trade Deadline

    Reds Release Jeimer Candelario

    Dave Parker Passes Away

    Griffin Canning Diagnosed With Ruptured Achilles

    Pirates Reportedly Have Very Few Untouchable Players At Trade Deadline

    Griffin Canning Believed To Have Suffered Achilles Injury

    Recent

    Astros Sign Hector Neris

    Dodgers Not Planning To Add Third Base Help Before Deadline

    Braves Release Alex Verdugo

    Clarke Schmidt Expected To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

    Blue Jays Place Yimi Garcia On 15-Day Injured List

    Mets Sign Zach Pop, Designate Tyler Zuber

    Mets Interested In Mitch Keller

    Diamondbacks Activate Corbin Carroll From 10-Day IL

    Dodgers Release Luis Garcia

    Phillies Interested In Dennis Santana, David Bednar

    MLBTR Newsletter - Hot stove highlights in your inbox, five days a week

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • Sandy Alcantara Rumors
    • Luis Robert Rumors
    • Alex Bregman Rumors

     

    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android App Store Google Play

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Remove Ads, Support Our Writers
    • Front Office Originals
    • Front Office Fantasy Baseball
    • MLBTR Podcast
    • Trade Deadline Outlook Series
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Guardians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • RSS/Twitter Feeds By Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

    hide arrows scroll to top

    Register

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version