Kim Ha-seong of the San Diego Padres of the U.S. Major League Baseball is showing signs of ‘erupting’ in the 2024 season. Like a volcano about to spew lava, he’s heating up.

Kim has been on fire since the start of exhibition play. He’s batting 4-for-4 in seven games. A staggering number. Superstar Fernando Tatis Jr. is batting 9-for-1 in the exhibition games.

He’s 6-for-15 with one home run and two doubles. He also drew four walks and stole two bases.

His power has gotten better with each game. He hit his first double against the Milwaukee Brewers on May 25 (KST), followed by his first home run against the Seattle Mariners on May 4, and another two-run shot against the Chicago Cubs on May 5.

It’s a big season for Ha-Sung Kim. If he finishes well, he will be eligible for free agency for the first time since his major league debut. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

In fact, it’s an exhibition game where his defense is more important than his hitting.

San Diego manager Mike Schmidt made a “surprise” announcement at the start of spring training that Kim would return to shortstop. He made headlines across the country for pushing out “$280 million” Xander Bogaerts. Kim won the Gold Glove as a utility player last season, and if he wins the Gold Glove as a shortstop, his price tag could skyrocket.

But hitting?

It’s hard to imagine how much his value would increase. Last season, he fell just shy of the 20-homer threshold with 17 homers, and his batting average went from 2.9 to 2.6 as his health deteriorated late in the season. However, 스포츠토토 if he can hit 20 homers and keep his batting average in the low 20s, a $200 million contract is not out of the question.

Kim Ha-seong’s hot bat. There’s a hidden secret.

It’s an axe bat. Kim’s bat has an unusual shape. The knob, or handle, is oval and asymmetrical. It’s called the “AXE” bat because it resembles an axe. It was first recognized by Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Mookie Betts when he played for the Boston Red Sox. Betts still uses this bat to this day. It”s a bit of an odd shape, but it”s legal under the rules.

Kim Hae-sung started using it in the middle of last season and saw his home run total increase. Naturally, he”s using the Axe Bat again this season.

What are the benefits of using this bat?

“Major league pitchers throw a lot of fastballs, and most of them curve at the end. If the wrist is not properly secured and the wrist is released, it almost becomes a ground ball.” “With the axe bat, I use my wrist less, which reduces the percentage of ground balls. The ball floats well. It’s a great fit for me.” The oval knob fits snugly on the pinky finger. This subtle difference reduces wrist strain.

Kim realized that he needed a long bat as a survival weapon, which is why he focuses on “bulking up” every season. If you compare his body from the beginning of his major league career to now, you’ll notice that he’s gotten a lot bigger. He’s been working on his body and his bat, and it’s paying off. It’s already a great sign.