Cubs Free Agent Target: Hyeseong Kim |
While baseball may be known as America's Pastime, it has become increasingly International. From the International Free Agent period to all of the Asian Players getting posted in free agency, baseball is at its highest level ever, which is saying something.
Speaking of foreign players getting posted, another highly regarded player is set to be posted to the MLB. Although he may not seem like a direct Cubs target, he may be worth looking at for an organization that does have some questions in its infield. According to Jon Morosi, Kiwoom Heroes INF Kyeseong Kim has informed the MLB to which he will be posted and is set to become a free agent by noon on Wednesday. Once that happens, teams will have 30 days to sign him to their roster, as he will be one of the more highly sought-after free-agent hitters once Juan Soto comes off the board. Typically, we wouldn't be talking about a player like this for the Cubs, but Nico Hoerner potentially on the trade block and questions surrounding third base the Cubs could be in the market for an infielder. Kim may be seen as a shortstop, but could also be seen as a middle infielder and could give the Cubs the help they are looking for. The 25-year-old Kim has been anticipating this move for the past few seasons and has been regarded as one of the most complete hitters in the KBO. Unlike most KBO and NPB hitters who focus more on power, Kim is one of those old-school players who cares more about average than power. You can look at his career numbers as an indicator of that. He has hit .304 across his eight professional seasons so far while also posting an on-base percentage north of .360 (.364). As if making contact and getting on base isn't good enough, Kim is also one of the better base stealers in the KBO. He has had at least 20 stolen bases in each of the past seven seasons and has more than 200 career steals to his name. That includes a career-best 46 stolen bases in 2021, as the speed aspect of his game is just as valuable as the contact side. Not only will teams look at his .304 average, but they will also look at his overall trend, as his average has continued to climb in each of the past five years to the point where he is now a .300 hitter. His short left-handed swing allows him to get to most pitches, while that swing can also generate some of the best line drive rates in the game. The 2024 season was arguably his best, which bodes well for someone looking to jump to the MLB this season. For the year, Kim slashed .326/.383/.458. He did that while swiping 30 bases and connecting for 11 homers as the power numbers increased from where they have been most of his career. Another thing that stands out about Kim is his defensive ability. He is consistently one of the best fielders in the game. After securing a Gold Glove at SS in 2021, Kim moved to 2B and won gold gloves in both the 2022 and 2023 seasons. Considering how the Cubs pride themselves on strong defense up the middle, Kim would be a great fit in Chicago should they move on from Hoerner at some point this season. As is the case with most International players coming over, West Coast teams have as good a shot as anyone to land him, but it's not a foregone conclusion. The Cubs have a long reputation for building relationships with International talent, and if they play their cards right, they could find a way to bring him in.
