Seoul: South Korean star infielder Kim Hye-seong is on the verge of being posted for Major League Baseball (MLB) teams by his South Korean club, Kiwoom Heroes, around noon Eastern Time (ET) on Wednesday, according to a report. This development marks a significant step in Kim's career as he eyes a move to the U.S. baseball scene.According to Yonhap News Agency, MLB.com reported that the Kiwoom Heroes of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) are preparing to make Kim available for any interested MLB teams. The timing aligns with 2 a.m. Thursday in South Korean time, underscoring the global interest in this transition. Kim recently traveled to Los Angeles last Friday to begin training at a facility provided by his U.S. agency, Creative Artists Agency (CAA), in anticipation of the impending posting process.An official from the Heroes confirmed that the team intends to ask the KBO to post Kim "sometime during Wednesday." This corresponds to late Tuesday night Eastern Time, suggesting that MLB is likely to inf orm its clubs about Kim's availability by Wednesday morning in the U.S. Under the agreement between the two leagues, once a KBO player is posted, any of the 30 MLB clubs can negotiate with the player within a 30-day window. This negotiating period commences at 8 a.m. ET the morning after MLB notifies its clubs and concludes at 5 p.m. ET on the 30th day.Kim, who is 25 years old, first expressed his ambition to play in the major leagues late last year. The Kiwoom Heroes announced in January that they would proceed with his posting after the 2024 KBO season. Kim capitalized on this opportunity by delivering his best offensive season in 2024, achieving career highs with 11 home runs, 75 RBIs, and a .458 slugging percentage. He maintained a batting average of .326 for his fourth consecutive .300 season and recorded 30 stolen bases, marking his seventh straight year with at least 20 steals.Throughout his career, Kim has established a strong performance record since making his KBO debut in 2017 and becoming an e veryday player in 2018. His career statistics include a batting line of .306/.364/.403 with 211 stolen bases, the highest in the KBO since 2018. Additionally, Kim's defensive prowess at second base was recognized with his second consecutive KBO Fielding Award in 2024.The posting process is beneficial for KBO teams, as they receive a "release fee" if a player moves to MLB. The fee is structured based on the guaranteed portion of the player's contract, with percentages varying at different financial thresholds. The Heroes have previously facilitated the transition of four players to MLB through posting, including notable names such as Kang Jung-ho, Park Byung-ho, Kim Ha-seong, and Lee Jung-hoo.
- September 13, 2026
