San Diego Padres outfielder Song Sung-mun made his MLB spring training debut on February 23 (Korean time) against the Los Angeles Dodgers at the Peoria Sports Complex in Arizona.
Debut At-Bats Show Promise
Sung-mun entered as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the sixth inning. Facing Dodgers pitcher Carlos Duran, he struck out looking on the fourth pitch. In his second at-bat in the bottom of the ninth against Christian Suarez, Sung-mun ripped a line drive that shortstop snared for an out, going 0-for-2 overall.
Despite the hitless outing, Sung-mun displayed solid contact ability and good plate discipline, signaling strong potential early in camp.
Contract and Role Expectations
The 4-year, $15 million contract Sung-mun signed last December (approximately 21.6 billion won) underscores the Padres’ investment. Analysts view him as a versatile utility player capable of manning center field, third base, first base, or second base.
Recent training emphasizes outfield defense alongside infield reps, positioning him for a utility role. The Padres lost 1-5 to the Dodgers amid lineup challenges, yet Sung-mun remains focused on securing a roster spot.
The San Diego Union-Tribune highlighted his debut, noting he returned to the plate for a second look and handled third-base duties seamlessly.
