Minneapolis: Kim Ha-seong has made an impactful return to the big leagues with a hit and a stolen base in his highly anticipated debut for the Tampa Bay Rays, following a long injury layoff.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim started at shortstop and batted seventh in an away game against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. The 29-year-old infielder went 1-for-3 with a stolen base. This marked his first Major League appearance in 11 months, after suffering a right shoulder injury last August while playing for the San Diego Padres, which required surgery in October.
During his rehabilitation, the South Korean player secured a lucrative two-year deal worth up to US$31 million with the Rays. Following a 21-game stint in Triple-A, Kim was called up to the major league roster. His notable moment came in the top of the seventh inning when he led off by hitting Brock Stewart’s 96.3 mph fastball for a sharp single to left field, with the ball leaving his bat at a blistering 105.3 mph.
This hit was not only his first in a Tampa Bay uniform but also the 419th of his MLB career. He immediately stole second base but was tagged out attempting to steal third. Kim had to leave the game early after experiencing cramping in his right calf during the attempt.
After the game, both Kim and Rays manager Kevin Cash expressed cautious optimism about the injury not being serious. Kim mentioned to MLB.com that he hadn’t felt any discomfort until he broke for third base in the seventh inning. “I think we’ll need to reevaluate tomorrow, but I don’t think it should be a big problem,” Kim said via an interpreter. Cash added, “I hope so. We’ll just see. It’s kind of day to day — check on him through the night and then tomorrow.”
Despite Kim’s encouraging debut, the Rays ultimately fell to the Twins by a score of 4-3 on a walk-off home run. The Tampa Bay Rays currently have a solid 48-40 record, tying them for second place in the American League East and keeping them in a favorable position in the highly competitive AL wild card race.