INCHEON, March 01 (Yonhap) — South Korean player Kim Ha Seong will be one of 10 members of the San Diego Padres to compete in the World Baseball Classic (WBC) this month. He hopes to be able to meet some of them in the final.
Kim returned home on Wednesday evening and is due to report for his first practice with the national team on Thursday at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul. As South Korea trained in Tucson, Arizona for the past two weeks, Kim was preparing for both the tournament and his third major league season during spring training with the Padres.
With three spring training matches under his belt, Kim will now focus solely on bringing South Korea into the 20-team tournament.
South Korean infielder Kim Ha-seong speaks to reporters at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, on March 1, 2023, before joining the national team for the World Classic of baseball. (Yonhap)
South Korea will open Pool B against Australia on March 9 at the Tokyo Dome. Japan, the Czech Republic and China will follow.
After a round robin in Pool B, the top two nations will advance to the quarter-finals, also at the Tokyo Dome. The semi-finals and the final will take place in Miami.
Among the Padres, the Dominican Republic is best represented with four players, and one of them, All-Star third baseman Manny Machado, put down the gauntlet, Kim said.
“He told me we should meet in the final,” Kim told reporters at Incheon International Airport. “Obviously our goal is to go and play in the United States (and at least reach the semi-finals).”
The Dominican Republic is in Pool D. The first point that South Korea and the Dominican Republic can meet will be in the semi-finals.
Kim could have an early showdown against a Padres teammate, if Japan ace Yu Darvish is given the green light to start against South Korea on March 10.
South Korean infielder Kim Ha-seong speaks to reporters at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, on March 1, 2023, before joining the national team for the World Classic of baseball. (Yonhap)
“I will share with my Korean teammates everything I know about Yu Darvish,” Kim said. “He’s a great player, but I think my teammates can hit any pitcher.
Kim and the only other major league player for South Korea, Tommy Edman of the St. Louis Cardinals, will form a solid midfielder. Kim was a finalist for the National League Golden Glove at shortstop last year, and Edman won the award at second base in 2021.
Edman, who arrived here around 6 a.m. on Wednesday, said he was “really excited” learn from Kim and exchange ideas with each other.
Asked about Edman’s comments, Kim said, “I’m grateful for his words. He’s a better player than me. I hope we both play well and take the team to the United States. -United”
San Diego Padres’ Kim Ha-seong (left) participates in a field drill during spring training at the Peoria Sports Complex in Peoria, Arizona on Feb. 21, 2023. (Yonhap)
Kim played in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) for seven seasons from 2014 to 2020 for the Kiwoom Heroes, and will reunite with former teammates and other familiar faces at the WBC. Kim’s position with the national team is much different now than in previous international events, now that he is a recognized leaguer. But Kim said that hasn’t changed her approach.
“I don’t really have any advice for them. I know they’ve all worked hard so far, and they’re all great players,” Kim said. “If we all do our best, we will have great results in the end.”
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