Baltimore Orioles: Can Hyeon-soo Kim Compete in MLB?

With the report of the Baltimore Orioles signing Korean outfielder Hyeon-soo Kim, can O’s fans expect that the left-handed batter will be able to successfully compete in the higher level of American major league baseball?

The report is that Kim has been signed by the Birds for two years for $7 million, which is certainly a team-friendly contract and worth the experiment and the risks involved.

Just how risky is it? It is well-known that the Korean Baseball Organization is a very hitter-friendly environment. But let’s take a moment to examine both Kim’s numbers and the reports about his skills.

First of all, Kim will turn age 28 just next month. He is listed as 6-2 and 209 pounds, so he is more than a little sort of leadoff hitter.

Kim’s career average is .318 and he hit .326 this past season for the Doosan Bears, including 28 home runs (the season in Korea is 144 games). While those numbers are very good, his main trade is on base percentage. For his career it is .406, and it was .438 this past season. There was a year where it was as high as .454! He walks at a higher percentage of the time than he ever strikes out.

Obviously, Kim is not going to replicate all of these numbers in MLB. He will not be hitting 28 home runs for the Orioles. However, to be fair, it is true that he played his home games in a park known as the Jamsil Baseball Stadium, and this is one of the largest fields in the KBO. As well, he will be hitting at Oriole Park, known as one of the best for left-handed power hitters.

I believe it is fair to imagine that a high on base percentage type of player can make the jump to MLB better than, say, a pure power hitter who struggles with batting average and OBP. Kim is known for his good eye at the plate and ability to put the ball in play. Even if he is not able to “square up” as many pitches as in the KBO, he should still be able to produce a solid OBP at the top of the order for the Orioles.

Kim is said to have rather average speed and defensive abilities. He has stolen a total of 54 bases in his career, while being gunned down 39 times.

Not only is Kim a left fielder, but he can play first base as well. Isn’t that convenient? That does open up a number of lineup possibilities. And if the Orioles are able to get more outfield help, Kim could play first base while Mark Trumbo was DH.

Oct 3, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles left fielder Alejandro De Aza (12) stands in the outfield during game two of the 2014 ALDS playoff baseball game against the Detroit Tigers at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports

And what other free agent moves are possible for the Orioles? There really are quite a few, perhaps with this even making Duquette feel better about the high cost of starting pitchers.