Padres News: Fernando Tatis Has High Praise for Ha-Seong Kim, ‘Best Player on the Team Right Now’
A day after leaving the game with an apparent shoulder injury, Padres Ha-Seong Kim was entered as the designated hitter for the San Diego ballclub in their series opener against the Colorado Rockies.
Kim has been one of the few bright spots for the Padres this season, slashing a career-best .281 average with an OPS at .821. The infielder has provided hope for a team that overall has been underperforming.
Fans around the league are just starting to hear about his stellar season, but his teammates in the clubhouse know how important he is to any success they have.
“We need him; as simple as that,” Tatis said Sunday afternoon. “He’s the best player right now on the team. … With his game, he definitely inspires others to keep hustling, to keep grinding.”
His value is not just being noticed by his team, according to Baseball Reference, Kim has a 5.2 WAR which would place him second in the National League just behind Ronald Acuna Jr.'s 5.4 Wins Above Replacement.
His continued elite defense in the middle infield along with a much improved and consistent bat in 2023 is the reason for his uptick in WAR this season already surpassing his 5.0 WAR in 2022.
The 27-year-old infielder will look to bounce back from this shoulder injury quickly and join the team back on the field so his defense can once again make an impact.
