MLB.com, classification by FA level... Ha-seong Kim is level 5.

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Kyung-yoon = Free agent (FA) Kim Ha-seong (31) was listed in the lowest grade, grade 5, in the 'FA classification by grade' introduced by MLB.com, the website of Major League Baseball (MLB).

On the 7th (Korean time), MLB.com introduced 181 players in the free agent market divided into grades 1 to 5 and placed Kim Ha-seong's name in grade 5.

The media explained the season performance and reasons for the classification of players classified into grades 1 to 3, and did not leave any comments regarding the players ranked 4 to 5.

Kim Ha-seong, who was active in the KBO League, made his debut in the big league through the San Diego Padres in 2021, and after becoming a starting player based on top-level defensive skills, he enjoyed his prime by winning the National League Gold Glove in 2023.

However, in September 2024, ahead of becoming a free agent, he collapsed after being put on the operating table due to a right shoulder injury.

After the end of the 2024 season, he signed a two-year free agent contract with the Tampa Bay Rays for a total of $29 million (approximately 39.5 billion won), but injured his right hamstring (muscle behind the thigh) during a minor league rehabilitation game in June 2025, and after repeatedly injuring his right calf and lower back, he transferred to Atlanta through waiver notice.

Ha-seong Kim exercised his opt-out (right to cancel the contract) instead of the option for an annual salary of $16 million (KRW 21.8 billion) in Atlanta, and then signed a contract with Atlanta for a one-year contract period and a total of $20 million (KRW 27.3 billion).

He drew a blueprint to aim for a long-term contract in the free agent market after proving his health and skills in the 2026 season.

However, in January of this year, he suffered the misfortune of slipping on an icy road and rupturing the middle tendon of his right hand, and after returning in mid-May, he continued to perform poorly due to the aftermath of not being able to properly participate in winter training.

In the end, he played in 51 regular season games this year and ended the season with a shabby batting average of 0.116 and 9 RBI.

MLB.com selected left-handed pitcher Tarik Skubal, who won the Cy Young Award twice, as a first-class free agent player.

A total of 18 people were named in the second grade, including Japanese infielder Teruaki Sato, Japanese outfielder Seiya Suzuki, special outfielder Randy Arosarena, and infielder Luis Arares, who won three batting crowns in the 2026 Japan Professional Baseball Central League and applied for posting.

Hanwha Eagles infielder Noh Si-hwan, who requested the posting, was not mentioned in the article.