Baltimore Orioles could part ways with Hyun Soo Kim

The Baltimore Orioles could be weighing an early divorce from Korean star Hyun Soo Kim, who they signed to a two-year deal only a few months ago.

Jung Ho Kang opened a lot of eyes last year with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Korean infielder enjoyed a surprising first season in Major League Baseball, slashing .287/.355/.461 in 126 games and even generating some Rookie of the Year buzz before an untimely September injury.

Kang’s success opened a gateway for increased interest in players from the KBO (Korean Baseball Organization). One of the primary beneficiaries this offseason was outfielder Hyun Soo Kim, who signed a two-year, $7 million deal with the Baltimore Orioles in December.

Kim, however, hasn’t exactly gotten off to an auspicious start in the United States. In 48 Spring Training plate appearances, he owns a paltry .182 batting average and .411 OPS. According to FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal, the O’s could cut ties with the struggling outfielder much earlier than anyone might have anticipated.

The 28-year-old Kim established himself as one of the KBO’s premier hitters in nine seasons there. He boasts a .318/.406/.488 career slash line in South Korea’s top baseball league, demonstrating an ability to get on base while hitting for both average and power. He won the league’s batting title in 2008 with a .357 average (a mark he matched the following season) and last year set career highs with 27 home runs and 121 RBIs.

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While numbers from other leagues don’t always translate to MLB, Kim’s impressive resume made him seem like a solid gamble for a major league club. Though his spring results so far have certainly been disappointing, it’s somewhat surprising to hear that Baltimore might already want to spring him loose only three months after signing him.

It’s worth noting that Kang didn’t exactly experience a perfect start on American soil either. Through 24 regular season plate appearances last year he slashed a meager .182/.208/.227, before a strong May helped put him on track. The effect of a significant cultural shift should also be considered. Baltimore general manager Dan Duquette explains: “These transitions, they take a while. You’ve got the language. You’ve got the culture. The baseball is a little different. There are better pitchers here.”

If the Orioles are indeed floating this idea around, it could mean that Kim is having second thoughts about the fit here as well. As Rosenthal mentions, this isn’t uncharted territory for the O’s: a year ago they released Korean reliever Suk-min Moon from his contract to return to the KBO. To do the same with Kim, they would need to agree to the release while the outfielder secures a deal to go back to his former league.

Even if Kim rounded back into form, Baltimore probably wouldn’t have the greatest need for him. With Adam Jones holding down center field and offseason acquisition Mark Trumbo in right, 24-year-old Joey Rickard has made a compelling case this spring for regular playing time in left field. The Rule 5 pick is slashing .388/.444/.571 with a homer and seven RBIs in 54 Grapefruit League plate appearances.

On a team that likely won’t lack for runs, the O’s might value defense more for their final outfield spot, and Rosenthal points out that Rickard edges Kim in that regard.

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In any case, the Orioles haven’t made a decision yet and don’t necessarily have to rush into one. If anything, the emergence of Rickard could take some of the pressure off Kim to perform right away. Though an early split would save the team some money, patience could also prove rewarding. Kim’s story could take a much more positive turn once the regular season gets underway.

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