The Korean Baseball Organization has officially posted infielder Hyeseong Kim, making him available for all 30 MLB clubs to sign.
Kim, ranked No. 41 on Keith Law’s list of the top 50 free agents this offseason, is a second baseman who hit .326/.383/.458 with 11 home runs, 75 RBIs and 30 stolen bases last year for the Kiwoom Heroes.
In a news release issued Wednesday, the KBO indicated his posting window would begin at 8 a.m. ET Thursday and last 30 days. If he reaches an agreement with an MLB team, that team will pay a transfer fee to Kiwoom. The fee, according to MLB.com, is based on the amount of his guaranteed contract. If he signs a major-league contract, Kiwoom will receive a payment equal to 20 percent of the first $25 million in guaranteed value, 17.5 percent of the next $25 million, and 15 percent on all amounts above $50 million.
If no deal is reached before 5 p.m. ET on Jan. 3, he will not be eligible to be posted again until Nov. 1, 2025.
Kim will turn 26 in January. He made his KBO debut in 2017 and has since earned a reputation for being a solid defender as well as a productive hitter; he was named to the All-Star team in 2022, 2023 and 2024. He took over at shortstop for the Heroes after his teammate Ha-Seong Kim left to join the Padres and has represented Korea at both the Olympic Games and the World Baseball Classic.
Law described Hyeseong Kim, a left-handed hitter, as a “a hit-over-power guy” who will likely need to get stronger and adjust his swing to become an everyday second baseman in MLB.
(Photo: Chung Sung-Jun / Getty Images)
