Kim Hye-Seong Hot Stove Rumors: Dodgers and Padres among teams interested in KBO star

KBO star Kim Hye-Seong is looking to take his talents to the MLB. He is a second baseman and shortstop who has won three Golden Glove Awards and was the stolen base leader in 2021.

Hye-Seong has played for South Korea in the Asian Games and played for the Kiwoom Heroes since 2017. However, after the 2024 season, Kiwoom posted him, making him an MLB free agent.

Since his posting, he has received a ton of interest. According to a Korean newspaper outlet, the slugger has received offers from the Seattle Mariners, Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels and San Diego Padres.

There was also an offer from a Chicago team that was not specified. We can only assume it is the Chicago Cubs as the Chicago White Sox are in the middle of their rebuild.

How talented is Kim Hye-Seong?

Republic of Korea v United States - Baseball - Kim Hye-Seong (Photo via Getty)

Kim Hye-Seong certainly has the talent to be an MLB star. He has all the tools to be an everyday player in the big leagues if he and a team can agree on a deal.

For starters, he possesses a fantastic glove and is comfortable on either side of second base. He has a great first step to the ball and a great arm to make throws deep in the hole.

Hye-Seong could also be a headache for opposing teams on the basepaths. He understands when and how to get a good jump and does not get thrown out much, holding an 85% success rate.

It will be interesting to see where he eventually lands. With his familiarity with Ha-Seong Kim, the San Diego Padres could be a great destination. You also cannot forget about the Los Angeles Dodgers and the success their international players have had.