KBO

Korean infielder Sung-Mun Song must sign this week, and the Padres and Angels are reportedly the frontrunners for his services. 

There is no doubt that A.J. Preller thinks outside the box when it comes to filling out his roster.

The Padres have signed multiple players from Korea and Japan over the years, and the latest player to draw the attention of San Diego is infielder Sung-Mun Song.

Song is 29 years old and posted through December 21, meaning he has between now and that date to sign with an MLB team. The clock is ticking and Song will surely agree to a deal this week.

The left-handed hitter is coming off two hugely productive seasons in the KBO, where he put up a .927 and .917 OPS and slugged 45 homers while stealing 46 bases. The issue is that before the 2024 season, Song was very pedestrian for seven years with the Kiwoom Heroes.

In fact, Kim never hit more than 13 homers in a season before 2024 and owned five career steals prior to his breakout. He debuted in 2015 but did not become a regular player until the 2019 season. He also missed all of the 2020 season and part of the 2021 season due to military service. The increase in at-bats helped him establish his offensive game in the past couple of seasons.

Most pundits describe him as a utility option in the majors. He can play first, second, and third base and is considered a plus defender on the right side of the infield. There is an outside chance that he could play every day. It all depends on how he adjusts to life in the majors.

Song is compared to Hyeseong Kim, who signed in L.A. this past winter after a career in the KBO. The Dodgers signed the infielder to a three-year, $12.5 million contract. That seems to be close to his expected dollar figure, though Song comes to MLB after an impressive 2025 season and may command more money.

Last year Song hit .315 with 26 homers and 90 RBI. He also stole 25 bases in 144 games.

There is a lot to like about the bat, but the transition to the majors is not an easy one. The Padres received excellent value from Ha-Seong Kim, who signed out of the KBO. The right-handed hitting infielder signed with the Braves this winter for $20 million, showing his value on the open market.

The Padres are attempting to save money, and Song could be an interesting option to strengthen the bench. The Padres may also elect to give the left-handed hitter some at-bats at first base or second base. He could also fill in for Manny Machado at third base if needed. The cost would not be ridiculous, and there is some upside here.

Sung-Mun Song will sign in the next few days, and the Padres may be in play.

Stay tuned as the Padres begin to fill out the roster for the 2026 season.

James was born and raised in America’s Finest City. He is a passionate baseball fan with even more passion towards his hometown Padres. James has written about the Padres and their prospects for over a decade. He also writes about San Diego State as well as other local sports. James is the Editor-In-Chief of EastVillageTimes.com. Always striving to bring you the highest quality in San Diego Sports News. Original content, with original ideas, that’s our motto. Enjoy.

Continue Reading