SF Giants outfielder Jung Hoo Lee's former KBO teammate set to be posted next week

Another one of SF Giants outfielder Jung Hoo Lee's teammates is set to come stateside. Jee-ho Yoo of South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency reports that Hyeseong Kim of KBO's Kiwoom Heroes is set to be posted next week.

SF Giants outfielder Jung Hoo Lee's former KBO teammate set to be posted next week

This has got to be a bittersweet stretch for the Heroes. On one hand, they have seen several of their former stars land massive contracts with MLB teams. This includes Ha-Seong Kim with the San Diego Padres and Lee with the Giants. On the other hand, that is a lot of talent to lose and Kiwoom has slumped in recent seasons, including a 58-86 record in 2024.

The former Padres infielder is now a free agent and the Giants have shown early interest. A sense of familiarity is one of the Giants' strongest selling points.

Kim and Lee were teammates with the Heroes of the KBO for two seasons before he came stateside prior to the 2021 season. Plus, Bob Melvin managed Kim for two seasons while they were both with the Padres. Melvin has been publicly complimentary of Kim much in the same way that he was with Matt Chapman before he signed with San Francisco.

Lee and Kim were also teammates with speedy infielder Hyeseong Kim. Hyeseong Kim and Ha-Seong Kim played up the middle in the infield for the Heroes when their paths crossed in 2019 and 2020. Lee was not too far away from them as he was often roaming center field.

With Hyeseong Kim set to be posted, he will have 45 days to work out a deal with a major league team. The team that eventually signs him will owe the Heroes a posting fee that varies based on the size of the contract.

Kim has been one of the best players in the KBO, earning three straight Golden Glove Awards starting in 2021. That award is given to the best overall player at each position, whereas the American Gold Glove Award is issued based on defensive excellence.

The left-handed bat is coming off of a charateristically strong season as he slashed .326/.383/.458 with 11 home runs, 75 RBI and 90 runs in 567 plate appearances. He also recorded 30 steals in 36 opportunities.

Kim is known as a base-stealing threat as he led the KBO in steals with 46 in 2021. Since then, he has tallied at least 20 stolen bases in each of the past three seasons. The Seattle Mariners are seen as a potential fit for Kim.