“Gold Glove.” Kim Ha Sung's advice
“Communication is really important.”
I don't have anything to say in terms of skills
Put an opt-out when you sign a contract.”
Kim Ha-sung (28, San Diego Padres), the first Korean major leaguer to win the Gold Glove, gave realistic advice to Lee Jung-hoo (Kium) and Ko Woo-seok (LG), who are looking to advance to the big league. Kim Ha-sung attended the official press conference of the Gold Glove Award held at the Versailles Hall of the Rivera Hotel in Cheongdam, Seoul, on the 20th and had time to reflect on the first Korean Gold Glove Award.
Kim Ha-sung received the Gold Glove in the National League Utility Division on the 6th. Gold Glove is given to players who have shown their best defense in a season. Kim Ha-sung showed off his versatility by playing both his main positions, second and third basemen and shortstop. Kim Ha-sung said, “I want to continue to receive gold gloves in the future regardless of any position.”
Kim Ha-sung left advice from his experience to outfielder Lee Jung-hoo and pitcher Ko Woo-seok, who recently announced their advance to the U.S. Major League Baseball. Lee Jung-hoo and Ko Woo-seok dream of entering the U.S. through the posting system this winter. Lee Jung-hoo, who has already received permission from the club, is drawing attention from prestigious big league clubs such as the New York Yankees and San Francisco Giants.
Kim Ha-sung said, “I know that (Lee) Jung-hoo and (Go) Woo-seok are good at baseball, so I have nothing to say in terms of my skills. “The challenge itself will serve as a model for many players,” he said. He emphasized studying English in particular. Kim Ha-sung said, “It's good to learn English in advance. Communication is really important. I'm having a hard time because I never thought I'd go to Major League, but if you have a dream to challenge to Major League, it would be good to study English. I hope the two will study now,” he said.
He also stressed that Lee Jung-hoo “didn't cling too much to the ‘minor league veto' when signing the contract.” Minor league veto is literally a device that prevents clubs from sending players to minor leagues. Kim Ha-sung also added a minor league veto to the conditions at the time of his contract with San Diego in 2021. Kim Ha-sung said, “But the veto didn't mean much. Looking at the seniors who played in the U.S. earlier, I thought it would be a big deal if I went to the minor leagues, and I was obsessed with the veto when I signed the contract. Lee Jung-hoo is likely to go to the U.S. for a considerable amount of money, but there is no reason to be obsessed. I think it's better to put an “optout” in it, he explained. Opt-out is the right of a player to become an FA after a certain period of time before the contract ends.
