ESPN expected… Kim Ha-seong batted 1 in the opening game, Choi Ji-man 4
US ESPN predicted that San Diego Padres infielder Kim Ha-seong (28) would play as the first batter and second baseman in the opening game of the 2023 American Professional Baseball Major League (MLB).
On the 28th (Korean time), ESPN ranked the expected batting order and offensive power of the 30 MLB teams in the opening game, ranking San Diego’s offensive power first overall.
Next, the expected lineup is Kim Ha-seong – Juan Soto (right fielder) – Manny Machado (3rd baseman) – Sander Bohartz (shortstop) – Jake Cronenworth (1st baseman) – Nelson Cruz (designated hitter) – Matt Carpenter (left fielder) – Introduced as Austin Nola (catcher)-Trent Grisham (center fielder).
Kim Ha-seong, who played an active role as the starting shortstop in the 2022 season, seemed to have narrowed his position this winter when San Diego recruited Bohartz, the league’s top shortstop.
Some local media also predicted that Ha-seong Kim would be pushed out as a backup or trade sale.
However, San Diego is preparing a plan to turn the existing second baseman Cronenworth into first baseman while entrusting second base to Kim Ha-seong.
Ha-seong Kim, ahead of his departure on the 27th, said, “The club said that there would be many situations where you had to go out as second baseman,” and said, “Second base defense is not a problem at all.”
ESPN also picked Kim Ha-seong as the first batter and second baseman in the opening game, predicting that there would be no problem with his position in the team.
Ha-seong Kim received high praise last season for not only attacking and defending, but also playing base without sparing his body.메이저사이트
ESPN seems to have picked Kim Ha-seong as the top hitter considering this point.
San Diego’s signature hitter, Fernando Tatis Jr., is out of the lineup as he plans to return after his suspension on April 20th.
ESPN predicted that Choi Ji-man of the Pittsburgh Pirates would also play an active part in the center lineup at the beginning of the season.
After analyzing Pittsburgh’s offensive power as 14th, the media introduced Choi Ji-man as the fourth batter and first baseman.
ESPN said, “Ahead of the 2023 season, Pittsburgh strengthened its batting line by selecting players with good pioneering skills such as Andrew McCutcheon, Ji-man Choi, and Carlos Santana.”