Why the Pirates may have avoided serious Hyeseong Kim mistake

The Pirates are likely better off not signing Hyesong Kim.

Aug 5, 2021; Yokohama, Japan; Team South Korea infielder Hyeseong Kim (3) hits a single in the third inning against USA in a baseball semifinal match during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Yokohama Baseball Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Yukihito Taguchi-Imagn Images
Aug 5, 2021; Yokohama, Japan; Team South Korea infielder Hyeseong Kim (3) hits a single in the third inning against USA in a baseball semifinal match during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Yokohama Baseball Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Yukihito Taguchi-Imagn Images | Yukihito Taguchi-Imagn Images

The Pittsburgh Pirates were one of the teams rumored to have interest in South Korean infielder Hyeseong Kim recently (not to be confused with fellow South Korean infielder with a similar name, Ha-Seong Kim). Although the middle infield isn’t (and shouldn’t) be a top priority for the Pirates, they could benefit a lot from a platoon-type option. Kim ended up signing with the LA Dodgers on a three-year deal worth $12.5 million on Friday. In the end, the Pirates may have dodged a bullet and could definitely use that money elsewhere.

Kim hit .326/.383/.458 through 567 plate appearances for the Kiwoom Heroes last year. He struck out in just 10.9% of his plate appearances while drawing a walk 8.3% of the time. Kim has never been much of a power hitter throughout his career, but he had a career year in terms of pop approaching free agency, with 11 home runs and a .136 isolated slugging percentage. Both were career-best marks.

On paper, Kim’s numbers look decent, but he played in a very hitter-friendly league. Last year, the average triple-slash in the KBO was .277/.352/.420, with an 18.9% K% and 9.2% walk rate. There were 89 KBO players who recorded at least 300 plate appearances. Kim had a 118 wRC+, which was only the 25th-best among those 89 players. Kim only ranked in the top 10 in strikeout rate and top 20 in batting average and on-base percentage.

Pirates made smart move not getting fooled by Hyeseong Kim's offensive statistics

Career-wise, Kim has never been much of a hitter. Kim has hit .304/.364/.403 for the Heroes in a hitter-friendly enviornment. He has never been very prone to striking out, with a career 16.3% K%, but has also drawn walks at a below-average 8.5% rate. On the plus side, he has put his ability to get on base at a respectable rate to good use, stealing 211 bags in 953 career games, including four seasons with at least 30 steals. Kim has just a 107 wRC+ throughout nearly 4000 plate appearances in the KBO. The only notable statistic where Kim has ranked in the top 50 among KBO hitters since his 2017 debut is batting average.

However, baserunning is about the only area where Kim truly stands out. Baseball America pins his running ability as a 70-grade tool. His hit and fielding tools are also project as above-average at 55. However, as expected, he has a very poor grade for his power ability at 30, and his arm only plays well at second base, with just a 40 grade there. Not only does he not have the arm strength to consistently make deep throws from the position, but he has had trouble with making accurate throws as well.

Kim projects similarly to Isiah-Kiner Falefa. Sure, IKF is a solid infielder, but is nothing to get worked up over the Pirates missing out on. The Pirates could probably find a better use of the $4-$5 million they would have used to sign Kim, perhaps applying it to relief pitching or outfield depth, two things that are of greater need.

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