Track Sung-mun of the Kiwoom Heroes poses with the trophy after being named the Participant of the 12 months on the Actual Glove Award ceremony on the Grand Walkerhill Seoul resort, Dec. 1.Yonhap
Korean star Track Sung-mun has reportedly signed his first main league contract with the San Diego Padres.
Citing sources, a number of studies out of the USA on Friday (native time) claimed Track had agreed to a cope with the Padres, who had not but confirmed the transaction as of this writing.
Track, having performed for the Kiwoom Heroes within the Korea Baseball Group (KBO) since 2015, was posted in November, making himself out there for all 30 Main League Baseball (MLB) golf equipment throughout a 30-day negotiating interval. That window was set to shut at 5 p.m. (Japanese Time) on Sunday, and Track traveled to the U.S. on Friday afternoon (South Korean time) to apparently finalize his transfer.
If the deal is finalized, Track will turn into the sixth Heroes participant to maneuver to MLB, following Kang Jung-ho (Pittsburgh Pirates), Park Byung-ho (Minnesota Twins), Kim Ha-seong (San Diego Padres), Lee Jung-hoo (San Francisco Giants) and Kim Hye-seong (Los Angeles Dodgers). Track may also be the third South Korean participant within the Nationwide League West, becoming a member of Lee and Kim Hye-seong.
Track is represented by ISE Baseball, the identical American company that despatched Kim Ha-seong to San Diego once they labored collectively previous to the 2021 season.
Track, 29, is a late-blooming All-Star who had his first breakout marketing campaign in 2024, when he batted .340/.409/.518 and set profession highs with 19 homers, 104 RBIs and 21 steals.
This 12 months, Track overcame a sluggish begin to end with a .315/.387/.530 line, 26 house runs, 90 RBIs and 25 steals. He additionally earned his first Golden Glove award at third base as the most effective general participant at his place and picked up his first KBO Fielding Award on the scorching nook. He ranked second within the KBO with 6.84 wins above alternative.
Track, who bats left and throws proper, is primarily a 3rd baseman however has additionally hung out at second base and first base. He additionally performed shortstop in highschool and has stated he may deal with shortstop duties if requested in MLB.
KBO golf equipment obtain a “launch price” in the event that they lose a participant to MLB by means of posting, and the quantity will rely upon the assured portion of the participant’s contract.
The discharge price is 20 p.c of the primary $25 million and 17.5 p.c of the quantity exceeding the subsequent $25 million. As an illustration, if a participant indicators for over $50 million, then his former KBO group will obtain 20 p.c of the primary $25 million ($5 million) and 17.5 p.c of the subsequent $25 million ($4,375,000), plus 15 p.c of the quantity exceeding $50 million.
