Ha-seong Kim and Lee Jung-hoo: Two Heroes Teammates Who Took the KBO to the Majors
One became the first Korean player to win a Gold Glove; the other is the Grandson of the Wind. How two players from the Kiwoom Heroes reached the majors through the posting system.
Of the Korean players who have reached the majors in recent years, Ha-seong Kim and Lee Jung-hoo have drawn the most attention. Fittingly, they came from the same club, Seoul's Kiwoom Heroes. Two players who once shared a clubhouse each crossed the Pacific through the posting system and opened a new path for KBO players.
The posting system: the KBO's door to the majors
As in Japan, KBO players with enough service time can be posted with their club's agreement. MLB teams can then negotiate with the player, and the team that signs him pays a transfer fee to his Korean club. Hyun-jin Ryu used this route in 2013, moving from the Hanwha Eagles to the Dodgers and becoming the face of KBO players going straight to the majors.
Ha-seong Kim: the do-everything infielder
Kim was a shortstop who could hit and field in the KBO, and after the 2020 season he signed a four-year deal with the San Diego Padres through the posting system. His bat took time to adjust in America, but his glove earned praise from the start. He could play second, third and shortstop, and became an indispensable part of the infield.
2023 was his signature season. He hit 17 home runs, stole 38 bases and won the National League Gold Glove as a utility player, becoming the first Korean player to win a Gold Glove in the majors. The award showed that Korean infield defence could stand with the best in baseball.
Lee Jung-hoo: the Grandson of the Wind
Lee's father, Lee Jong-beom, is a Korean baseball legend known for his speed and nicknamed the Son of the Wind, so fans call Lee Jung-hoo the Grandson of the Wind. He joined the Heroes in 2017 and won Rookie of the Year that season; in 2022 he won the batting title and the KBO MVP award, establishing himself as one of the league's signature hitters.
After the 2023 season Lee signed a six-year, $113 million contract with the San Francisco Giants through the posting system, one of the largest deals ever for a KBO position player moving to the majors. Unfortunately, in May 2024 he crashed into the outfield wall, injured his shoulder and missed the rest of the season, playing only a few dozen games in his first year. His contact skills and plate discipline still give the Giants plenty to look forward to.
The same cradle
The Heroes are known for developing young players and giving rookies real playing time, and both Kim and Lee grew quickly in that environment. Their success has also drawn more MLB scouts to the KBO, with more teams sending people to Korea to watch promising players.
What their success means for Korean baseball
Each of these moves sends a message back home. Young Korean players now see a clearer path from the KBO to the majors, and clubs see that developing talent can bring both on-field success and transfer fees. For the league, every star who succeeds abroad raises its profile and its credibility with scouts.
The challenge of adjusting
Moving from the KBO to the majors means facing harder fastballs and sharper breaking balls, and Korean hitters usually need time to adjust their timing. Kim's first season at the plate fell short of expectations, but that was part of the process. His breakout came from the adjustments he kept making through those difficult months.
For Baseball Dream players
Kim and Lee show that good players need a stage and playing time to grow. In Baseball Dream, give your young players real minutes and be patient with their potential, and your team may develop the next star headed for a bigger stage.