The White Sox were not expected to do anything significant from a free agency standpoint this offseason. That may no longer be the case. According to Sam Connon of Fastball on SI, the team has recently been linked to Korean infielder Hyeseong Kim. While it is just a rumor, the White Sox connection to Kim is an intriguing possibility and worth discussing.
Kim’s Player Profile
A 25-year-old left-handed hitting infielder, Kim has spent all eight seasons of his professional baseball career in the KBO League in Korea. He is a career .304 hitter there, and his past two seasons have been his best statistical seasons to date. In 127 games with the 2024 Kiwoom Heroes, Kim hit .326 with 26 doubles, four triples, and 11 home runs. He also stole 30 bases, posted an OPS of .841 and a wRC+ of 118, and a strikeout rate of under 11% this past season. In addition, Kim’s groundball% has decreased in recent years while his flyball% has shot up. Speed is another aspect of his game, as he has stolen at least 20 bases in each of the last seven seasons. Kim is improving in all aspects offensively over time. That is a good sign considering he is just now entering his prime years and looking to make a name for himself in MLB.
Despite his offensive success, Kim’s defense is what he is most known for. He is a three-time KBO Golden Glove award winner and is the only player in KBO history to win the award at both second base and shortstop.
Potential Suitors
Given his well-rounded profile and age, Kim figures to have many suitors. In addition to the White Sox, Connon mentioned the Seattle Mariners and Los Angeles Angels as other teams connected to Kim. While those teams are known suitors for now, other teams will undoubtedly compete to secure Kim’s services.
Where Kim ends up signing is the million dollar question. It depends on his preferences. If his goal is to win, he will likely choose the Mariners of his known suitors. If he wants to play with a superstar, he could pick Mike Trout and the Angels. Yet the White Sox are uniquely positioned to be an appealing destination for a player like Kim for reasons that might not be apparent.
White Sox Unique Selling Points
The track record of Korean position players coming from the KBO to MLB is murky at best. Kim’s former KBO teammate, former Padres infielder, and current free agent Ha-Seong Kim is a big-time success story. However, other Korean position players like Hyun Soo Kim, Dae-ho Lee, and ByungHo Park did not achieve the same success in MLB as in Korea. The main concern with Kim is whether he will show enough power to be a viable MLB player. However, the 2025 White Sox will be as low-pressure of an environment as a player can find in MLB. For a foreign player like Kim, beginning his MLB career in a pressure-free environment to get comfortable could appeal to him. Signing with a team like the White Sox would allow Kim to get his feet wet without his spot being at risk if he struggles initially.
The White Sox can also sell Kim on a guaranteed starting spot and marquee position in the lineup. Second base has been a revolving door on the south side for years. Lenyn Sosa has shown flashes of productivity but has never put it together. Brooks Baldwin has potential but could have fared better in his initial MLB stint last season. The White Sox lineup as a whole also severely lacks talent. The team can offer Kim stability and guaranteed playing time, something more competitive teams might not because of his unproven status in MLB.
Affordable Projected Contract
Kim’s projected contract is also why the White Sox connection to him makes sense. He projects to land a three-year, $24 million free-agent contract per MLBTradeRumors, which is affordable even by White Sox standards. Whoever signs him must also pay a posting fee to his former team, the Kiwoom Heroes. Kim is an affordable but intriguing option for a White Sox team that does not swim in the deep end regarding free agent spending.
Intriguing Possibility
The 30-day negotiating window for Hyeseong Kim has opened, and it is an encouraging sign to see the White Sox seemingly involved. Given how bad the team is and looks to be moving forward, they will have to find creative ways to obtain talent. Using the KBO as a resource to find players is a viable option. Kim could become a meaningful player in the White Sox future plans should they sign him. He brings skills and talent they have lacked at second base for a long time. His status is worth monitoring, and signing him would help Chris Getz and the rest of the White Sox organization prove to fans that they are genuinely trying to improve the team.
