Minor League Baseball

Tampa Bay Rays' Ha-Seong Kim Notches Hit on 1st Swing of Rehab Assignment

Ha-Seong Kim is finally seeing his first game action of 2025, taking some at-bats with the Tampa Bay Rays' Triple-A affiliate Durham Bulls as he recovers from shoulder surgery.
Sam Connon|
Port Charlotte, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Ha-Seong Kim (7) poses for a photo during media day.
Port Charlotte, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Ha-Seong Kim (7) poses for a photo during media day. | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

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Tampa Bay Rays

For the first time in over nine months, the Tampa Bay Rays' Ha-Seong Kim got a taste of live game action.

The Gold Glove infielder showed no signs of rust, needing just one swing to leave his mark on the contest.

Kim, who underwent shoulder surgery last August when he was still a member of the San Diego Padres, served as the Triple-A Durham Bulls' designated hitter in their showdown with the Memphis Redbirds on Monday. He singled to left in the first inning, got hit by a pitch in the third, then singled to center in the fifth.

The Tampa Bay Rays' Triple-A affiliate went on to lose 6-1, despite having a handful of big leaguers and elite young talent in their lineup. On top of Kim, outfielder Jake Mangum was also on a rehab assignment, while shortstop Carson Williams and first baseman Tre' Morgan are among the organization's top prospects.

Kim inked a one-year, $13 million contract with the Rays this past winter, also building in a $16 million player option for 2026 that comes with a $2 million buyout. Across his first four seasons in MLB, Kim hit .242 with a .706 OPS, averaging 14 home runs, 60 RBIs, 23 stolen bases and a 4.5 WAR per 162 games.

The 29-year-old Korean transplant should be able to play all over the infield once he joins the Rays in the big leagues. That promotion could come as soon as early June, but he will need to get defensive reps in Triple-A before he takes that next leap.

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Sam Connon
SAM CONNON

Sam Connon is a staff writer for “Minor League Baseball on SI’’ and other "On SI'' baseball sites. He previously covered UCLA Athletics for “UCLA on SI’’ and won awards from the College Media Association and Society of Professional Journalists. Connon also wrote for “New England Patriots on SI’’ and was on the Patriots and Boston Red Sox beats at Prime Time Sports Talk. Follow Sam on Twitter @SamConnon.

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