Major League Baseball (MLB) Boston has been showing interest in Kim Ha-seong (28, San Diego) this offseason. However, it seems that the vacant shortstop position will be resolved with internal resources.
American media NESN said on the 22nd (Korean time), “Boston plans to appoint Kike Hernandez (32) as the main shortstop next season.”
Boston lost two shortstop resources at once in this Stove League. Zander Bogarts (31), who had held the position for several years, left for San Diego, and Trevor Story (31), a former National League Silver Slugger, is unable to play in the opening game due to elbow surgery.
When Bogarts moved through free agency, Story was expected to replace him. The story of signing a six-year, $140 million contract with Boston ahead of last season is because he was a shortstop resource for the Hotajun tribe. But now Boston needs to find a new shortstop.
Boston is expected to give up his starting spot to Hernandez. He has a career batting average of 0.239, 97 home runs, and 279 RBIs with an OPS of 0.732 over nine major league seasons. He played for the LA Dodgers and ate a pot of rice with Ryu Hyun-jin (36, Toronto). In 2021, the first season of his transfer to Boston, he showed off his slugging power by reaching the 20 home run mark.
In particular, Hernandez is an excellent utility player who has experience in all positions except catcher in the big leagues. He played mostly as a second baseman (258 games) and center fielder (352 games), but he also has a record of 100 career games as a shortstop.
The media said, “When Hernandez signed with Boston in 2021, it looked like he would be a second baseman, but he moved to center field.”
Boston’s solution to the shortstop as an inside player is like reducing Kim’s destination by one more. Last year, he appeared in 150 games in the absence of Fernando Tatis Jr. (24), and seemed to become San Diego’s fixed shortstop. However, the arrival of Bogarts forced him out of the position.
Finally, it was argued that Boston, whose resources had left in succession, should recruit Kim Ha-seong. Boston area media in particular raised their voices. “Even before Story announced right elbow surgery, Boston needed a middle infielder,” the Eagle-Tribune pointed out, adding, “(Story’s absence) now is the time Boston must move. At this point, Boston’s only option is Reinforcing through trade,” he explained. 먹튀검증
However, as Boston resolved the shortstop problem, Ha-seong Kim was deleted from one of the trade candidates. Now, Kim Ha-seong is highly likely to give up shortstop and move to second base.
Meanwhile, Hernandez expressed his delight at the shortstop move, saying, “I prefer playing in the infield rather than center field.” “(Playing as a shortstop) is like riding a bicycle,” he said, adding that he had no problem adapting.