Kim Ha-seong, the South Korean star of the San Diego Padres, went hitless in the very first Major League Baseball game in his native land. Batting fifth, Kim went 0-for-3 with a walk against the Los Angeles Dodgers but made a fine defensive play at shortstop. The Padres lost the game 5-2 at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul. Kim spent the final five years of his seven-year Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) career for the Kiwoom Heroes with Gocheok as his home park. Kim has been billed as the homecoming hero as the Padres and the Dodgers made their historic journey to Seoul, though Kim did not make an impact in the first game. Before his first plate appearance in the second inning, Kim took off his helmet and raised both arms before taking a bow to acknowledge the appreciative crowd. Kim drew boisterous cheers during the pregame introduction and stepped into the box to a loud ovation as well. But he flied out to right against Dodgers starter Tyler Glasnow in that inning. In his next trip to the plate in the bott om fourth, Kim worked a six-pitch walk against Glasnow. Up against the new pitcher Ryan Brasier in the bottom sixth, Kim grounded out to second baseman Gavin Lux. Kim led off the bottom of the ninth against reliever Evan Phillips, with the Padres down 5-2, but hit a flyout to right field. Speaking to Yonhap News Agency in the clubhouse afterward, Kim said he was put the opening loss behind him. "It's disappointing to lose but we have a game to play tomorrow, and many more to come," he said. "We'll have to be ready for tomorrow." As Kim was coming up to bat in the second inning, home plate umpire Lance Barksdale gave the player some time to soak in the fans' adulation. Before the pitch clock could start running, Barksdale swept the home plate as Kim acknowledged the crowd. "Because I was playing in Korea, the umpire was nice enough to buy me some time there," Kim said. "So I was able to salute the crowd. It felt great to play here. It was a bit strange to play a major league regular season game here at G ocheok." Kim, the 2023 National League Gold Glove winner at the utility spot, flashed the leather to end the top of the fourth inning. Gavin Lux hit a grounder up the middle that deflected off the glove of pitcher Tom Cosgrove. The ball changed direction and slowed down, but Kim made a deft backhand grab and fired a strike to first baseman Jake Cronenworth to nab Lux. "It was a bit of a tricky play but I knew I would have enough time to get that out," Kim said. "I am trying to be 100 percent on defense. I think I had a pretty solid day on the field." Kim said he had a brief exchange with the Dodgers' Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani at second base during the game. Kim said Ohtani greeted him in Korean, "Annyeonghaseyo," and he responded in kind. Source: Yonhap News Agency
Myanmar Clears Path for Junta Leader to Become President
March 30, 2026