It is predicted that Kim Ha-sung will return in late April or early May next year.
Kevin Ace of the San Diego Union-Tribune said on the 13th (Korea Standard Time) that Kim Ha-sung is aiming for mid-April or early May next year.
MLBTR explained, “If he can maintain this trajectory, Kim Ha-sung will be able to play most of next season.” 스포츠토토
“Kim Ha-sung, who turns 29 next week, will now be the most exciting player in the free agent class. He will still reject the mutual option with San Diego,” MKBTR said. “The Padres can offer him a $21.05 million qualifying offer, but that could be a risky decision.”
The QO decision must be made within five days after the World Series ends. The Padres have only about three weeks to measure Kim’s health.
Kim Ha-sung underwent a net suture surgery on his right shoulder joint on the 11th.
During the game on August 19, he underwent surgery 53 days after complaining of shoulder pain while sliding to first base to avoid the opponent’s pitcher’s checks.
“The surgery came at a brutal time for Kim Ha-sung, who rejected the $8 million mutual option and is scheduled to become a free agent this winter,” MLBTR said on the day. “Kim Ha-sung, who is faithful to defense, could claim a four- to five-year contract for more than $15 million a year if he was healthy. But now his market value is much more difficult to grasp.”
“Until the middle of this summer, Kim Ha-sung was certain to refuse after receiving a qualifying offer (QO),” he added, “Unless the Padres expect him to make a full recovery at the beginning of the 2025 season, they will probably not offer a QO.”
MLBTR predicted, “With this surgery, the possibility of Kim Ha-sung signing a short-term contract has increased. This could be a one-year contract or a two-year contract that can be opt-out after the first season.”
“If San Diego sends out Kim Ha-sung, we have to decide whether to recruit the shortstop from outside or move one of the current players back to shortstop,” the media said. “The Padres used Bogaerts as shortstop with Jake Cronenworth and Luis Arraez on the right side of the infield. There is also an option to leave the shortstop to Jackson Merrill, but the 21-year-old player will not want to change his role again because he had a fantastic season in center field.”
Attention is focusing on how the FA market will react to Kim Ha-sung.
