"I’m really looking forward to it," said a fan favorite player.
Kim Ha-seong of the Tampa Bay Rays showed his presence as the 'highest-paid player on the team' just one game after his return. He was met with the expectations of the manager and teammates, injecting the vitality that befits those expectations. Though there were concerns about injury symptoms that made everyone at Tampa Bay nervous, it seems that it fortunately did not lead to a major injury.
Kim Ha-seong played as a starting shortstop in the game against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on the 5th (Korean time), achieving 1 hit and 1 stolen base from 3 at-bats.
In the top of the 7th inning, Kim Ha-seong led off with a single to left field, marking his first hit since the trade. He then successfully stole second base. However, shortly after, he was substituted for defensive purposes with a calf cramp condition while attempting to steal third base, ending his game.
This was Kim Ha-seong's debut with the Tampa Bay Rays after obtaining free-agent status last year and signing a $29 million, 2-year contract. It was his Major League Baseball return after 320 days since suffering a right shoulder injury in a game against the Colorado Rockies on August 19 last year while with the San Diego Padres. After undergoing right shoulder labrum repair surgery in October last year, Kim Ha-seong went through rehabilitation during the winter, during which he signed a contract with the Tampa Bay Rays. The team entrusted him with the highest salary on the team, confident in his healthy return, with an annual salary of $13 million for this year.
The Tampa Bay Rays aided Kim Ha-seong’s healthy return by adjusting his comeback schedule. He sustained a hamstring injury during rehabilitation games but returned successfully, finishing with a batting average of .280 (15 hits in 72 at-bats) and 6 RBIs, achieving the awaited comeback game.
Before the game, manager Kevin Cash noted, "He is a very talented player on both the offensive and defensive sides. There’s no way he’ll mess up. I’m glad Kim Ha-seong is back," adding, "We’ve been playing good baseball, and having Kim Ha-seong join will make our team better."
Teammates also expressed anticipation for this season’s first collaboration with Kim Ha-seong. Outfielder Josh Lowe remarked, "Thinking about Kim Ha-seong’s time in San Diego, he was a player that fans really liked. His commitment to always doing his best was impressive. He plays very hard and brings energy to the lineup. He is an incredibly dynamic player who can hit for power, has good plate discipline, is great on the bases, and can steal bases. Defensively, he is an elite player," and he did not hold back his praise. Starting pitcher Taj Bradley also expressed excitement about working with Kim Ha-seong, whom he sees as the solid infielder commander supporting him. Bradley said, "I’m really looking forward to it. Previously, I could only see him play in San Diego on TV, but now I can see him right in front of me on the same team. Kim Ha-seong has been through a lot to get to this point. I know he’s very excited. We’ve talked a few times while he was rehabbing, and his knowledge of baseball and understanding of the game were really impressive."
However, there were concerns that returning with so much expectation and spotlight may bring about another injury. But both Manager Kevin Cash and Kim Ha-seong were not overly worried. Cash said, "I hope it’s not a serious injury. We will have to monitor the situation closely and check his status every day. We’ll start checking from tonight and will take another look tomorrow morning."
Kim Ha-seong mentioned that he did not feel anything in his calf until before the attempt to steal third base and was not overly worried himself. He said, "I will reassess the situation tomorrow, but it shouldn’t be a big issue."
Kim Ha-seong's time at Tampa Bay has just begun. He just needs to avoid any more injuries.
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