TAMPA -- Over the last eight months, Ha-Seong Kim has gained a greater appreciation for what he had before. Specifically, his health and his ability to play baseball at the highest level as often as possible. “I’ve never rehabbed for this long because, thankfully, I haven’t gotten major injuries,” Kim said earlier this week through interpreter David Lee. “During this long rehab period, I really got to realize how thankful it is for a player to not be hurt and play healthy.” Soon enough, Kim could put himself back in that camp. The 29-year-old shortstop, the Rays’ biggest offseason addition, is set to face live pitching at the club’s Spring Training complex in Port Charlotte in the coming days before likely beginning a rehab assignment at some point next week with Triple-A Durham that will eventually deliver him back to Tampa Bay. |
Kim has been hitting, running and fielding grounders for months. His throws were noticeably harder as he took ground balls at shortstop this week, with Kim noting he is “pretty satisfied” by his current arm strength. The most important part of his rehab assignment, Kim said, will be reacclimating to live pitching and game-speed defense. “In terms of rehab and throwing program, there's not much to do left,” Kim said. “I think I'm just at a stage where I just need to go out in games and try to build up, to take another step forward. That's where we're at.” The Rays won’t rush Kim back, considering how long he’s been sidelined. They could ease him in with a few days as a designated hitter and some work at second base (with less demanding throws) before working himself up to games at shortstop -- the position he was signed to play. Rehab assignments for position players can last up to 20 days. In the meantime, they can keep leaning on Taylor Walls (MLB’s Defensive Runs Saved leader, with 12) and José Caballero (who has an .819 OPS against lefties and leads the team with 15 steals) at shortstop. |
Manager Kevin Cash said the Rays haven’t yet set a timetable for Kim’s rehab stint, but want to get him to Triple-A so that he can face high-level pitching. “He hasn't played baseball in a long time, so we’ve got to get plenty of live at-bats with him,” Cash said. “I can't put a number on it, but I think it'll be lengthier than shorter, just because of the amount of time missed.” The Rays are excited to get Kim in the mix, though, believing he can raise the floor of their lineup without sacrificing any defensive upside. A Gold Glove Award winner in 2023, Kim posted 15.1 WAR while recording a .242/.326/.380 slash line with the Padres from 2021-24. Illustrating his point about durability, Kim played 150 games in 2022, 152 in ’23 and 121 before going down in the Padres’ 125th game last year. Considering the frustration of his season-ending injury and the time he’s missed ever since, Kim is just as eager to remind everyone -- including his new team -- what he can do. “I just want to show everything that I'm capable of as a player, all my strengths and my style of play,” Kim said. “I go out there and give it 100% every day, hustling every day. So hopefully if I show those type of moments, I can fit in with my teammates more easily.” |
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MLB MORNING LINEUP PODCAST |
• No surprise: After retiring as a Ray in two weeks, Evan Longoria will join the Rays Hall of Fame next year. Read more >> • The Rays hit four first-pitch homers as they secured a series win over the Astros. Read more >> • Cash was ejected Wednesday and could face further discipline. Read more >> • “This team is always in the game.” The Rays walked off with another come-from-behind win Tuesday night. Read more >> • Kevin Kelly and Jake Mangum are on their way back, plus more injury updates. Read more >> |
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The Rays stole four bases on Wednesday, giving them multiple steals in five straight games -- and four steals in three of those contests. That’s tied for the longest streak of multi-steal games in franchise history, matching a five-game run from June 10-14, 2009. If they steal at least two bases on Friday, they’ll match the longest multi-steal streak in the Majors since 1997. Seven clubs have had six-game streaks during that span, most recently the Brewers last June 10-16. |
The value of Caballero’s defensive flexibility was on display during the last two games of the Rays’ series against the Astros. Caballero made his first Major League start in center field on Tuesday night, but finished the 3-2 win at second base. “It’s exciting for me to take the challenge to play a really hard position,” Caballero said beforehand. The next afternoon, Caballero was slated to start at third base, but moved to shortstop when Walls was scratched a few hours before first pitch due to a sore groin. Caballero has started games at five different positions this season (center and right field, second and third base, shortstop) and played six spots (those five, plus left field). On April 26, he manned three positions in one game: shortstop, right field and third base. “It’s pretty remarkable how a guy that doesn’t have many reps in the outfield has really grown to look very comfortable out there,” Cash said. “We’ve seen what he did last year, and even this year, at short and third. He plays defense with a lot of confidence.” |
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