Hyun Soo Kim willing to give MLB another chance
By David Hill
Although his time in the majors ended in disappointment, outfielder HyungSoo Kim is willing to return if a team wants him in the future.
The past two seasons in the majors were a different experience for outfielder Hyun Soo Kim. A star in Korea, Kim showed flashes of promise during his first season with the Orioles in 2016, producing a solid .306/.382/.420 batting line in his 346 plate appearances. However, he struggled mightily last year, slumping to a .231/.307/.292 batting line between the Orioles and Phillies.
After that disappointing performance, it was not a surprise that Kim returned to Korea. He signed a four year contract with the LG Twins worth $10.6 Million, a move that all but assures that Kim will remain in South Korea for the foreseeable future. It would not be a surprise if, after his experience in the majors, Kim would be content to stay in the KBO and remain a star in his home country.
Instead, Kim is not yet willing to let his major league dream die out. He has said that he is willing to return to the majors should another opportunity present itself, especially given how much he learned during his time in the majors. In particular, Kim learned that routines make a difference, especially when it comes to facing the best pitchers that the world has to offer.
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It will be interesting to see how his time in the majors changes his performance in the KBO. Kim had been a good hitter in his decade in South Korea, posting a .318/.406/.488 batting line with 230 doubles and 142 homers. Even in a league known for inflated power numbers and offense, Kim had been a contact first player, the perfect second hitter in a lineup.
We have seen players head to Korea or Japan in the past to improve their performance, looking to return to the majors. Eric Thames and Wilin Rosario made such a trek, with Thames returning as a fearsome slugger for the Brewers. Rosario has yet to return, but his performance improved dramatically in the KBO, as he is looking to build off those improvements in Japan.
It is possible that Kim is looking for the same sort of improvement in the next few years in Korea. It will also be interesting to see if he has an agreement with the LG Twins where he can attempt to pursue opportunities in the majors should those arise.
Hyun Soo Kim has left the majors behind, but this could be a temporary detour. He is at least willing to consider a return to the majors, if the right opportunity presents itself.