The Tampa Bay Rays have signed infielder Ha-Seong Kim to a two-year contract covering the 2025-26 seasons, which includes a player option for 2026. The deal could be worth up to $31 million if the option is exercised and performance escalators are met. To make room on the 40-man roster, left-handed pitcher Brandon Eisert was designated for assignment.
Kim, 29, batted .233/.330/.370 (94-for-403) with 16 doubles, three triples, 11 home runs, 47 RBIs, 58 walks, and 22 stolen bases over 121 games with the San Diego Padres in 2024. He was placed on the 10-day IL on August 20 due to right shoulder inflammation and underwent right shoulder surgery on October 12. Kim was one of three South Korean players to appear in the majors in 2024, alongside Boston’s Rob Refsnyder and Pittsburgh’s Ji Hwan Bae.
From 2021-24, Kim’s 15.3 bWAR ranked second among Padres players, behind only Manny Machado (17.7). His 48 defensive runs saved ranked third in the National League, trailing Pittsburgh’s Ke’Bryan Hayes (72) and Colorado’s Ryan McMahon (59). Kim earned a Rawlings Gold Glove award as a utility player in 2023 after being recognized as a finalist at shortstop in 2022.
Over his 540 career major league games, Kim has slashed .242/.326/.380 (418-for-1,725) with 80 doubles, eight triples, 47 home runs, 200 RBIs, 206 walks, and 78 stolen bases. He originally signed with the Padres as an international free agent on December 31, 2020, becoming the club’s first Korean-born position player.
