Ha-Seong Kim Bio
Ha-Seong Kim, born on October 17, 1995, in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, is a professional baseball infielder currently playing for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB). A right-handed-hitting shortstop and third baseman, Kim first rose to prominence in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) League with the Nexen Heroes before making the jump to Major League Baseball with the San Diego Padres in 2021. Across both leagues, he has built a reputation as a slick-fielding infielder with above-average offensive production for his position, earning multiple Golden Glove honors in the KBO and an MLB Gold Glove Award in 2023.
Standing among the most accomplished Korean-born position players to compete in MLB, Ha-Seong Kim combines speed, contact skills, and defensive versatility at premium positions. He has represented South Korea in several international tournaments, including the World Baseball Classic and the WBSC Premier12, where he was recognized as the best shortstop in 2019. His career path from a teenage prodigy in Bucheon to a Gold Glove winner in the National League illustrates a steady climb through every level of professional baseball.
Early Life and Background
Ha-Seong Kim was born on October 17, 1995, in Bucheon, a city in the Gyeonggi Province that borders western Seoul. He grew up as the youngest of three children in a family that encouraged athletic development from a young age. Bucheon, while not traditionally a baseball hotbed, offered Kim access to local youth leagues where he first developed the infield footwork and quick hands that would later define his professional profile.
Kim attended Yatap High School in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, a program with a strong baseball tradition. In 2013, during his final high school season, he led Yatap to a runner-up finish in the national high school baseball tournament, batting .375 with a .477 on-base percentage and 20 stolen bases. That performance drew the attention of KBO League scouts, who projected him as a future everyday shortstop. By the time of the 2014 KBO draft, Kim had established himself as one of the top amateur position players in the country.
Path to Professional Baseball
Ha-Seong Kim entered the professional ranks when the Nexen Heroes selected him 41st overall in the 2014 KBO League Draft. He made his KBO debut on May 18, 2014, against the Lotte Giants at Sajik Baseball Stadium, collecting a double in his first at-bat and a triple in his second. The early signs of his offensive upside were immediate, as he launched his first professional home run on June 4, 2014, against the NC Dinos.
Throughout his first KBO seasons, Kim served as a backup shortstop behind veteran Kang Jung-ho, gaining valuable experience while showcasing the defensive instincts that would later carry him to MLB. By 2015, he had assumed the everyday role at shortstop, earning his first KBO All-Star Game selection. His combination of power, speed, and reliable glove work positioned him as the heir apparent at the position once Kang departed for MLB, and his rapid development made Kim a fixture in the Heroes’ lineup for the remainder of his KBO tenure.
Ha-Seong Kim Career
Nexen/Kiwoom Heroes (2014–2020)
Ha-Seong Kim spent his first seven professional seasons with the Nexen Heroes, who became the Kiwoom Heroes during his tenure. In his rookie year of 2014, he appeared in spot duty, learning the pace of professional pitching while flashing the defensive range that would soon become his trademark. By his second season in 2015, Kim had locked down the starting shortstop job and produced a walk-off home run against the Doosan Bears on June 6, one of several late-inning highlights that season.
From 2016 through 2020, Kim blossomed into one of the KBO League’s most productive shortstops. He joined the 20–20 club in 2016, hitting 20 home runs and stealing 20 bases, and he repeated the feat in subsequent seasons. In 2018, he helped South Korea win gold at the Asian Games in Jakarta, an achievement that also earned him a special military service exemption. He captured three consecutive KBO Golden Glove Awards from 2018 to 2020, finished among the league leaders in WAR and WPA, and signed off his KBO career with a 30-home-run, 100-RBI, 100-run campaign in 2020. The Heroes posted him after that season, clearing the way for his move to Major League Baseball.
San Diego Padres Era (2021–2024)
On December 31, 2020, Ha-Seong Kim signed a four-year, $28 million contract with the San Diego Padres, including a mutual option for 2025. He made his MLB debut on April 1, 2021, pinch-hitting against the Arizona Diamondbacks, and launched his first major-league home run on April 10, 2021, in Arlington against the Texas Rangers. As Fernando Tatís Jr. battled injuries and a PED suspension, Kim absorbed increasing responsibility at shortstop, posting an .708 OPS with 11 home runs and 12 stolen bases in 150 games during 2022.
Kim’s most decorated Padres season came in 2023, when he slashed .260/.351/.398 with 17 home runs, 60 RBI, and 38 stolen bases across 152 games. That summer, he delivered his first MLB walk-off home run on April 3 against Arizona, recorded his first multi-home-run game on July 24 versus Pittsburgh, and crushed a grand slam off Miami’s Ryan Weathers on August 21. After the season, he became the first Korean-born player to win a Rawlings Gold Glove Award, taking home the National League utility honor. Shoulder surgery limited his 2024 effectiveness, and Kim entered free agency that November after declining his portion of a mutual option.
Tampa Bay Rays and Atlanta Braves (2025)
On February 3, 2025, Ha-Seong Kim signed a two-year, $29 million contract with the Tampa Bay Rays that included an opt-out clause after one season. He opened the year on the injured list while continuing his recovery from off-season shoulder surgery and was transferred to the 60-day IL on May 9, 2025. Kim was activated and made his Rays debut on July 3, 2025, contributing as a versatile infielder before a back issue sent him back to the injured list later in August.
On September 1, 2025, the Atlanta Braves claimed Kim off waivers, and he started at shortstop for Atlanta the following night. He hit his first home run as a Brave on September 3 off Chicago Cubs pitcher Drew Pomeranz, finishing the truncated stint with five home runs and 17 RBI. After declining the mutual option in his contract, Kim re-signed with the Braves on December 15, 2025, on a one-year deal worth $20 million, reaffirming his commitment to Atlanta through the upcoming campaign.
Driving Style and Strengths
Ha-Seong Kim is widely regarded as a contact-oriented infielder with excellent plate discipline and plus speed on the basepaths. His calling card is defensive versatility, as he has logged significant innings at shortstop, third base, and second base while maintaining strong range and sure hands. At the plate, he works deep counts, uses the whole field, and adds occasional power, giving managers a flexible table-setter in the middle of a lineup.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Ha-Seong Kim’s signature moments are his 2018 Asian Games gold medal with South Korea, his three straight KBO Golden Glove Awards from 2018 to 2020, and his historic 2023 National League Gold Glove Award as a utility player, which made him the first Korean-born MLB player to claim that honor. He also joined the 30–100–100 club in the KBO in 2020 and has represented his country in the 2017 and 2023 World Baseball Classic tournaments.
Ha-Seong Kim Career Wins
Ha-Seong Kim’s professional résumé features team-level successes in both the KBO League and Major League Baseball. With the Nexen/Kiwoom Heroes, he helped his club advance through multiple postseason rounds and reached the Korean Series in 2018. While individual batting titles have not defined his career, his three straight KBO Golden Glove Awards and his 2023 MLB Gold Glove Award underscore a sustained standard of excellence in the field.
KBO and MLB Highlights
In the KBO, Kim earned three consecutive Golden Glove Awards from 2018 to 2020 and recorded multiple 20–20 seasons, peaking with a 30-home-run, 100-RBI, 100-run campaign in his final year with the Heroes. In MLB, he has supplied steady infield defense, double-digit stolen-base totals in every full season since 2022, and a career-high 38 stolen bases in 2023. He also reached double-digit home runs in three of his four full Padres seasons.
Other Wins and Performances
On the international stage, Ha-Seong Kim helped South Korea win the 2017 Asia Professional Baseball Championship and the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, where he earned a special military service exemption. He was named the best shortstop of the 2019 WBSC Premier12, reinforcing his reputation as one of Asia’s premier infielders.
| Series | Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
|---|---|---|---|
| KBO League (Nexen/Kiwoom Heroes) | N/A | 3x Golden Glove (2018–2020) | N/A |
| MLB (Padres/Rays/Braves) | N/A | 2023 NL Gold Glove (Utility) | N/A |
Ha-Seong Kim Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Ha-Seong Kim was raised in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, as the youngest of three children in a family that supported his athletic pursuits from an early age. Public details about his parents and siblings remain limited, and the family has generally kept a low public profile while focusing attention on Kim’s professional career.
Personal Life
Public records do not confirm a spouse or children for Ha-Seong Kim, who tends to keep his personal life private. He spends his MLB off-seasons between South Korea and the United States and is known for his disciplined training routine and quiet demeanor in clubhouse settings.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season was defined by recovery and transition for Ha-Seong Kim. After signing with the Tampa Bay Rays in early February, he opened the year on the injured list while completing rehabilitation from off-season shoulder surgery. He was activated in July, made his Rays debut on July 3, and provided steady infield defense and contact hitting before a back issue returned him to the injured list later in August.
On September 1, the Atlanta Braves claimed Kim off waivers, and he wasted little time contributing, going 5-for-13 in his first series while launching a home run against the Chicago Cubs. Across his combined Rays and Braves appearances in 2025, Kim finished with five home runs and 17 RBI in a limited role, a modest statistical line given the injury-shortened workload. The campaign nevertheless set the stage for his re-signing with Atlanta in December and reinforced his value as a versatile infielder capable of playing shortstop, second base, and third base at a high level.
