It is a major league with a tight schedule throughout the year with a 162-game system. In addition, only 26 players can enter the major league active roster. There is always a shortage of backup players. So, players who can play multiple positions are essential.
In the past, such players were often treated literally as ‘backups’, but now the treatment has changed quite a bit. Players who can play multiple positions receive preferential treatment. Even steadfast starters or top players are increasingly seeing more than two positions. Players such as Mookie Betts (LA Dodgers) and Ha-Sung Kim (San Diego) are typical this season.
The Major League Gold Glove also set out to shed light on the value of these players, such as creating a new ‘utility player’ division that digests multiple positions. And Kim Ha-seong is recognized as the highest level in the utility sector.
On the 6th (Korean time), the US sports media ‘Bleacher Report’ selected the ‘TOP 10’ of the best players by position so far this season. Kim Ha-seong came in second in the utility category. It was ranked first in the last ranking, but this time, when Betts, who was originally in the right field division, joined, it took a step down to second place. However, it is clear that it is a very high ranking.
Betts is a superstar representing the league. He has won 7 All-Stars, 6 Gold Gloves and 5 Silver Sluggers. He was also the 2018 American League MVP. Such Betts is originally right fielder, the main position. However, this year, he is dedicated to the team by working ‘infield part-time’ in the midst of a dizzying team situation. He is very athletic and has a great sense, so he is often seen not only as a second baseman but also as a shortstop who lacks experience.
As of Monday, Betts has made 61 starts in right field, 30 at second base, and 12 starts at shortstop. He recorded only 3 errors as a shortstop, but shows stable defensive power with no errors in the other positions. Here, the attack is also worth the name. He has a batting average of 0.286, 29 homers, 70 RBIs, and an OPS (on-base percentage + slugging percentage) of 0.964 in 104 games for the season. If there is a player to put a brake on Ronald Acuna Jr.’s (Atlanta) National League MVP solo front, chances are that Betts will be one of them.
It is true that it is not easy for Ha-seong Kim to rise to the top of this ranking as Betts is doing so well in both offense and defense. However, Kim Ha-seong is also making a big success this year, raising his value to the fullest. His defensive power has already begun to be recognized as the highest level in the league since last year, and this year, he has been 먹튀검증reborn as an all-round player with a great performance as much as rubbing his eyes and ball in attack.
As of the 6th, Kim Ha-seong is also active in the offense, recording a batting average of 0.286, 15 homers, 41 RBIs, 61 runs, 24 stolen bases, and an OPS of 0.839 in 106 games of the season. OPS is 30% higher than league average. In particular, his 0.383 on-base percentage is one of the best in the league. When Ha-Sung Kim’s attack exploded, San Diego is having a lot of fun, using it as a leadoff. Betts is a great player, but Kim Ha-seong is also top-notch.
Meanwhile, in other positions, players who are currently dominating the league took first place. In the catcher category, Sean Murphy (Atlanta) overtook Jonah Haim (Texas), Will Smith (LA Dodgers), and Adley Luchman (Baltimore) to keep first place. Freddie Freeman (LA Dodgers) also took first place in the first baseman category. Matt Olsen (Atlanta) came in second and started chasing Freeman.
At second base, Ha-seong Kim’s original position, Luis Araes (Miami), who is likely to become the league batting champion this season, was selected. The first to fourth places leading to Araes, Ketel Marte (Arizona), Marcus Simeon (Texas), and Aji Albis (Atlanta) were the same as the previous rankings. In the shortstop category, Wander Franco (Tampa Bay) pushed out Corey Seager (Texas) and rose to the top spot. In the third base category, Jose Ramirez (Cleveland) still maintained the top spot.
Juan Soto (San Diego) in left field, Lewis Robert Jr. (Chicago White Sox) in center field, and Ronald Acuna Jr. (Atlanta) in right field took first place. Last year’s American League MVP Aaron Judge (New York Yankees), who had just returned from an injury, was pushed to 10th place and felt the gap left by his injury. In the designated hitter category, Shohei Ohtani (LA Angels) did not allow Yodan Alvarez (Houston) to overtake and kept first place.
