In his Tampa Bay Rays debut, Kim Ha-seong recorded his first hit and stolen base. However, he found himself in a situation where he was once again anxious due to a leg injury.
On the 5th (Korean time), Kim Ha-seong started as the seventh shortstop in the game against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota, achieving 1 hit in 3 at-bats and 1 stolen base. However, he finished his comeback game after being substituted in the bottom of the seventh inning due to calf cramps.
It was Kim Ha-seong's Tampa Bay debut after signing a two-year, $29 million contract following his free agent status last year. This was his first Major League comeback after 320 days since sustaining a right shoulder injury during a game against the Colorado Rockies on August 19 last year while he was with the San Diego Padres.
Kim Ha-seong, who underwent right shoulder labrum repair surgery in October last year, rehabilitated over the winter and signed with Tampa Bay during his rehabilitation process. Tampa Bay expressed confidence in Kim Ha-seong's healthy return and treated him with the highest salary on the team. Subsequently, Tampa Bay helped manage his return timeline for a healthy comeback. Although he sustained a hamstring injury during the rehabilitation games, he returned again and played 21 games in Triple-A, achieving a batting average of .280 (15 hits in 72 at-bats), 6 RBIs, and an OPS of .602 before logging his highly anticipated return game.
Before the game, manager Kevin Cash noted, "He is a very talented player on both offense and defense. There’s no way he’ll mess anything up. I’m happy to have Kim Ha-seong back," adding, "We are playing good baseball, and having Kim Ha-seong join us will make our team a better team."
"He can play any position we need, but we view him as our shortstop. If we were facing a left-handed pitcher and Brandon Lowe needed a rest, that’s something we could discuss, but fundamentally, Kim Ha-seong is the shortstop," he emphasized, marking Kim Ha-seong as the team's starting shortstop.
Kim Ha-seong said, "The team is doing really well, so I want to follow what the team is doing. Of course, I have confidence. I want to help the team maintain its good momentum. I don’t want to be a hindrance." He shared his thoughts ahead of his return, adding, "Of course, I’m nervous about returning. We are in a high position on the standings and can aim for the World Series title," and remarked, "Our team is composed of really good players and is a special team. It’s an honor to play with such players."
With excitement in his heart, Kim Ha-seong stepped to the plate for his first at-bat in the top of the third inning. The Minnesota starter was Chris Paddack, who he played with in San Diego. Kim Ha-seong made contact with Paddack's first pitch at 93.6 mph. He generated a strong hit at 100.5 mph, but it went directly to the second baseman for a ground out as the defensive shift affected the hit.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, with two outs and a runner on first, Kim Ha-seong ended the inning with a sliding catch of a strong 105.4 mph hit from Royce Lewis. In the subsequent top of the fifth inning, with one out and no runners on base, he faced Paddack in a full-count battle but ended up hitting a grounder to first base after a check swing on a 95.6 mph fastball.
In his third at-bat in the top of the seventh inning, Kim Ha-seong finally secured a hit. Facing Minnesota's third pitcher, Brock Stewart, Kim Ha-seong hit a 96.2 mph fastball for a left-field single on a 1-ball, 1-strike count. The hit clocked in at 105.3 mph, marking his first hit as a member of Tampa Bay. He then showcased his health by successfully stealing second base during Chandler Simpson's at-bat.
Kim Ha-seong also attempted to steal third base during Danny Jansen's at-bat. He showcased a technical sliding maneuver to avoid a tag but was ultimately called out. He dashed around the field without any injury trauma right after getting on base.
However, during the process of stealing third base, he was seen touching his leg, and the trainer conversed with manager Kevin Cash. Ultimately, Kim Ha-seong was substituted early, concluding his comeback game.
According to local media after the game, it was reported that Kim Ha-seong was replaced due to calf cramps. Kevin Cash commented, "He had a calf issue, and I hope it’s just a simple cramp." Still, it was not a problem related to his shoulder, which required surgery and rehabilitation. However, he hoped the calf cramps would not lead to a more significant injury.
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