The San Diego Padres’ Ha-Sung Kim, 28, may not be allowed to feast on the stars, but the fact that he’s being mentioned as an All-Star speaks volumes about his status.
The Major League Baseball office released the results of the first round of Major League Baseball All-Star fan voting on Nov. 13 (KST). Kim was nominated in the National League second baseman category and finished ninth with 82,879 votes. Miami Marlins second baseman Luis Arajes, who had a near-perfect batting average, is the top vote-getter among National League second basemen.
Currently, Kim is batting .234 (46-for-197) with five home runs, 20 RBIs, and a .692 OPS. While his offense is offensive, he also contributes a lot on defense. He often makes highlight reels with his spectacular plays, but he’s also a solid defender.
His defensive stats are as good as they look, with some of the best in the majors. He has an OAA (Outs Above Average) of +6 and a DRS (Defensive Runs Saved) of +10, which is a measure of runs prevented by the defense. His OAA is second overall and his DRS is first overall. Kim’s versatility at every position in the infield, not just second base, but also third base and shortstop, makes him even more valuable.
However, his defensive prowess hasn’t been enough to win over fans. San Diego’s underperformance on the field is one of the reasons for this. The Padres are 33-34 and in fourth place in the National League West, despite the offseason hype.
However, there are still those in the major leagues who recognize the value of Kim. MLB.com listed 10 players who deserve to be named to the All-Star team on Friday. “Being selected to the All-Star team is an eternal honor. Once a player is named to the All-Star team, he or she can call themselves an All-Star forever,” explaining that “there are a number of players who have had substantial careers in the big leagues and deserve to be considered for the All-Star team, but did not make it this year.메이저사이트
The 10 mentioned by the outlet include outfielder Randy Arozarenas, infielder Yandy Diaz (both Tampa Bay), pitcher Alex Cobb (San Francisco), pitcher Zack Callen (Arizona), and outfielder Kevin Kiermaier (Toronto), catcher Sean Murphy (Atlanta), outfielder Brandon Nimmo (New York Mets), outfielder Louis Robert Jr. (Chicago White Sox), catcher Will Smith (Dodgers), and designated hitter Jorge Soler (Miami).
The list of honorable mentions also includes Kim Ha-Sung, who didn’t make the top 10. The general consensus in the U.S. is that Kim has done enough to deserve an All-Star mention. We’ll see if he makes it to the All-Star game as a manager’s pick, if not a fan favorite.