Kim Ha-seong (28-San Diego Padres) was one of three finalists for the National League (NL) Gold Glove at shortstop last year. Being the first Asian-American shortstop to be nominated was a big deal, but it didn’t translate into a win. With Dansby Swanson (Chicago Cubs) being named the winner, fellow nominees Miguel Rojas (Los Angeles Dodgers) and Ha-Sung Kim had to wait.
San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado, 31, who is close to Kim, was not pleased with the outcome. “I was surprised that he didn’t win the Gold Glove last year,” Machado told The Athletic on May 5, noting that the award is given to certain players who have performed well in the past, not based on their records, and that players with strong defensive reputations get the Gold Glove for their name recognition.
Major League Baseball will honor 20 players, 10 from each league, including utility players. The winners are determined by a combination of 75% of the votes cast by managers from each of the 30 clubs and up to six coaches per team, and 25% of the Defensive Index (SDI) developed by the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR). Because on-field perception is weighted more heavily than objective records, the award tends to favor big-name players.
This year, after moving to second base, Kim has continued to play Gold Glove-caliber defense. As The Athletic notes, “The most consistent part of San Diego’s game this year has been defense. “Last year’s Gold Glove finalist at shortstop, Ha Sung Kim, who plays three positions, including second base, has a major league-leading DRS (Defensive Runs Saved) of 13. His OAA (Out Above Average) of 5 is second on the team, behind only starting shortstop Xander Bogaerts (7).
“Kim, who was noted for his offensive potential when he signed with San Diego, could become the first Korean player to win the major league’s top defensive award. “At first, I didn’t think I would be a Gold Glover. But in my third year, I started to think that I could win the award. If you work hard at your job, the rewards will follow,” he said.
Kim credits Bobby Dickerson, who coached him in San Diego’s infield defense during his first year in the majors. Dickerson left for the Philadelphia Phillies last year, but Machado, who Kim said “has been my defensive mentor since day one,” is still by 메이저놀이터 his side. A two-time Gold Glove winner, Machado is an exceptional defensive third baseman who has also played shortstop.
“He doesn’t mind playing any position,” Machado said. He wants to be the best defender he can be. His preparation has helped him adjust to a different league. He came from a different country, a different culture, and had to adapt to an unfamiliar environment. To this day, he has embraced it and continues to work hard. It’s important for him to strive to be the best. He’s learned from some of our players, but in the end, he’s done it.” “I think this is definitely going to be a good year for him,” he said, predicting a Gold Glove win.
The Athletic notes, “Kim played shortstop, third base, and second base in San Diego’s first year in 2021. Last year, he played shortstop and second base, but not second base. This year, he had to adjust to playing second base again. It took some time, but I definitely made the adjustment,” Kim said. San Diego manager Bob Melvin also praised Kim, saying, “It took him a while to get used to playing second base, but our internal defensive metrics value him as highly as DRS does.”