Kiwoom Heroes third baseman Music Sung-mun speaks after successful the Golden Glove award through the ceremony at Lotte Lodge World in Seoul, Dec. 9. Yonhap
Apparently on his option to be a part of the San Diego Padres, South Korean league All-Star Music Sung-mun is anticipated so as to add versatility to the infield that also has some lingering query marks.
Reviews out of the US on Friday (native time) stated Music had agreed to a contract with the Padres, and the deal could be finalized pending a bodily. The Kiwoom Heroes star had been posted for all 30 Main League Baseball (MLB) golf equipment final month, and his 30-day negotiating window is ready to shut at 5 p.m. (Jap Time) on Sunday.
Offensively, Music has been among the many highest within the Korea Baseball Group (KBO) previously two seasons. He had a breakout marketing campaign at age 28 final 12 months, when he hit .340/.409/.518 and set profession highs with 19 homers, 104 RBIs and 21 steals.
This 12 months, Music put up a .315/.387/.530 line, 26 dwelling runs, 90 RBIs and 25 steals. He additionally earned his first Golden Glove award at third base as the very best total participant on the place.
Music has additionally taken main strides defensively. He collected his first KBO Fielding Award at third base in 2025 and can also be able to enjoying second base. He has even logged time at first base, although not in 2025.
The Padres at present have a gap at first base, with Luis Arraez, who manned first base for them for the final season and a half, now a free agent. Music final performed first base in 2024, with 32 video games there.
The Padres do have some flexibility, with the versatile Jake Cronenworth able to sliding from second base to first. He performed first base in 106 video games as just lately as 2023.
The Padres have an getting older Manny Machado and Xander Bogaerts as their common third baseman and shortstop, respectively, and Music might spell Machado sometimes for an off-day or a DH day, or Cronenworth might play shortstop for Bogaerts with Music taking up at second.
Cronenworth has been in commerce rumors this offseason, and one other chance is that Music merely finally ends up as a substitute for Cronenworth at second base if the latter is dealt.
All three South Korean gamers who completed the 2025 season on MLB rosters have been Music’s teammates with the Heroes: Kim Ha-seong of the Atlanta Braves, Lee Jung-hoo of the San Francisco Giants and Kim Hye-seong of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
As soon as the Padres deal is finalized, Music can be in the identical Nationwide League West division with Lee and Kim Hye-seong.
In 2026, the Padres will play the Giants and the Dodgers 13 instances every, and can face the Braves seven instances.
