From being a Heroe to a Padre, the overseas connection between a South Korean team and a San Diego team continues to grow stronger.

If you’re not familiar with how San Diego and South Korean baseball are linked, it’s ok. It’s only been a recent thing, but these countries have a history between them. There are similarities that could be interesting to keep an eye on going into the 2026 Major League season.

This past December (three days before Christmas), the San Diego Padres reached a deal with former Kiwoom Heroes third baseman Sung Mun Song to a four-year deal worth $15 million with a $1 million signing bonus. This deal would be an early “Christmas gift” for fans of the Padres as the team added an international star to their team ahead of the MLB’s Winter Meetings.

The signing came with a sense of déjà vu, as just five years ago, San Diego would find themselves in this same spot.

The team signed another player from the KBO, specifically from the Kiwoom Heroes, as well. That player was shortstop Ha-Seong Kim.

Time in the KBO

The tale of Ha-Seong Kim coming out of the KBO and crossing over into the MLB could be a useful reference to Sung Mun Song’s value. He makes the same transition from playing in the KBO in South Korea to playing in the Major League. 

Ha-Seong Kim began his baseball career when he was drafted by the Nexen (Kiwoom) Heroes in 2014. The shortstop played in Korea until 2020. He finished his career in the KBO with a .294 batting average, a .373 OBP, a .493 slugging percentage, and an OPS of .866. Shortly after, he signed a four-year deal in December of 2020 with the San Diego Padres, making his debut in the 2021 MLB season.

Sung-Mun also started his career with the Nexen (Kiwoom) Heroes in 2015, just one year after Ha-Seong joined the club. Just like Ha-Seong, he played six years with the Heroes before joining the Padres. Sung-Mun would also play six years with the Kiwoom Heroes in the KBO before leaving for San Diego. By the time he left, Sung-Mun would finish with a career .283 batting average, .347 OBP, .431 slugging percentage, and an OPS of .778.

The numbers are similar, but Kim obviously came to the States with a better track record of offensive prowess.

Life of a Padre

Now, to fully grasp an idea of what Sung Mun Song could be like in San Diego, let’s look back at the four years that Ha-Seong Kim spent with the team.

Ha-Seong Kim made his Padres debut in 2021 and played until 2025, when he would opt out and become a free agent for the first time in his MLB career. Kim finished his time in San Diego with a .236 batting average, a.319 OBP, a .375 slugging percentage, and .694 OPS. Kim would be responsible for 229 total runs batted in, 418 total hits, 47 total home runs, and 200 RBIs.

The right-handed hitter’s best year as a Padre would come in 2023, his junior year in the league. This is the time that a player traditionally starts to find his rhythm and get the feel for the game.

During the 2023 season, Kim set career highs in runs batted in (84), total hits (140), home runs (17), and RBIs (60).

While offensively he was finding a way to make an impact, it would be his defense that grabbed everyone’s attention. Kim went on to win his first individual award by claiming the Rawlings Gold Glove as a shortstop for the National League. His bat took a season or two to advance, but he did make the jump successfully. 

The outlook going forward for HSM

Now, where does this leave us as Mun Song is making his debut as a Padre? What is his value?

It’s easy to have high expectations, especially for a player who’s looking to make the journey from an international league to the Major Leagues. His last year in the KBO was impressive. 

But it would be best to err on the side of slight caution. The jump from one league to another takes time. A lot of adjustments have to be made. For Sung Mun Song, we should expect him to find his footing in time. But the first few hundred at-bats may be rough. 

In Ha-Seong’s first season, he recorded a .202 batting average, .352 slugging percentage, a .270 OBP, and a .622 OPS. He would also bring in 27 runs, earn 54 hits, hit eight home runs, and account for 34 RBIs. Sung Mun Song could produce the same output in his first season, but he does not come with the same reputation as Kim with the bat. The Padres may take it slow with the Korean player.

Pre-Season Predictions

Sung Mun Song is a player worth keeping an eye on this year for the Padres.

His versatility coming in as a third baseman could be useful with a veteran like Manny Machado on the roster. At 33 years old, Machado will likely require some days off during the season. Craig Stammen will also likely use Sung Mun Song as a weapon off the bench. 

Sung Mun Song has the opportunity to grow his game, all the while helping the San Diego Padres make it to the playoffs for a third straight season. The team is chasing after its first-ever World Series championship. This Korean player may be a vital member of getting them there. 

Jordan Irizarry

Jordan Irizarry is a fan of the game.
Whether it’s football, hockey or “America’s past time”, he’s always locked into watching his favorite team. After getting a small taste in journalism by covering the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he’s now looking to “dip his foot” in the baseball world by covering the San Diego Padres. Whether it’s stats and facts or just pure fandom, Jordan is looking to bring his love of the game to you.