New Orioles' Kim determined to retire in US

Baltimore Orioles’ outfielder Kim Hyun-soo poses during a press conference at the Convention Bellagium in Gangnam-gu, southern Seoul, Tuesday. / Yonhap

By Nam Hyun-woo

New Baltimore Orioles outfielder Kim Hyun-soo expressed his determination to help the Orioles reach the playoffs every year that he plays on the team.

“If I return to Korea, I would end up being a loser,” Kim said, during a news conference at Convention Belagium in Samseong-dong, southern Seoul. “The best case is retiring in the U.S., but if I return, that means no team wants me, so it is right to say that I would have failed.”

A day before Christmas, Kim agreed to a two-year, $7 million contract with the Orioles, ending his 10-year stint with the Doosan Bears of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO). After the 2017 season, he will become a free agent again, as he had been when he made it into the majors as the first Korean free agent to do so earlier this month.

“Kang Jung-ho came across my mind when my deal was finalized,” Kim said of Pittsburgh Pirates’ Kang Jung-ho who made a soft landing in the majors this year. “I was able to sign the deal because Jung-ho did so well. I thought I should not ruin what he has achieved.

“I may not be an extraordinary player, but I will be a player who is good at basic things,” Kim said.

Kim is the second KBO player to join the big leagues this winter, following Park Byung-ho who joined the Minnesota Twins through posting.

With Kim's transfer, there will be five Koreans expected to play in the majors next season -- Kim, Park and Texas Rangers' Choo Shin-soo in the American League, and Los Angeles Dodgers' Ryu Hyun-jin and Pittsburgh Pirates' Kang Jung-ho in the National League.

Listed at 188 centimeters and 100 kilograms, Kim hit .326/.438/.541 with 28 home runs and 121 RBIs the previous season for the Doosan Bears, where he spent some 10 years as the mainstay outfielder.

He is a career .318/.406/.488 hitter better known for his patience, drawing more walks (597) than strikeouts (501). He was walked 101 times last season while striking out 63 times.

As a major baseball star in Korea, Kim said he liked the fact that no one recognizes him in Baltimore, adding that such an experience teaches him that he should work harder.

“I like no one recognizing me,” Kim said. “I went to a Korean restaurant there. The owner did not recognize me and said ‘if you are migrating here, you should work hard. As hard as you can and do not rest.’ That was a funny experience, but I really liked what he said to me. I will not rest and will try as hard as I can.”

To the concerns over whether his fielding ability and patience at the plate will make him successful in the majors, Kim said: “I cannot say anything about that because I haven’t played a single inning yet. Let’s just see what happens.

“Instead, I think becoming a part of the team and having chemistry is the most urgent thing I have to deal with. Then, playing games, as many as I can comes next, then I will start to think about my future.”