Padres' Kim Ha-seong singles in homecoming

Kim Ha-seong of the San Diego Padres celebrates after hitting a single against Won Tae-in of Korea during the bottom of the third inning of the teams' exhibition game at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, Sunday. Yonhap

Kim Ha-seong, the Korean shortstop for the San Diego Padres, picked up a base hit in his homecoming Sunday.

Kim batted 1-for-4 in an exhibition game against the Korean national team at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, as the Padres pulled out a 1-0 win.

This was the first of two preseason games that the Padres will play in Seoul, before they go up against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday and Thursday for a historic Seoul Series.

Kim spent his final five seasons with the Kiwoom Heroes in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) with Gocheok as his home park. And he received a thunderous ovation as he stepped into the box for the first time in the bottom of the first inning, with one out and bases loaded.

Facing starter Moon Dong-ju, Kim wasted a chance to put the Padres on the board, as he popped out to shortstop Kim Ju-won in shallow center.

Kim got his lone hit of the game in the third inning against the new Korean pitcher, Won Tae-in. With a runner at first, Kim singled to center and advanced the runner to third. The Padres failed to cash in as Jurickson Profar struck out swinging.

Kim faced his third pitcher in as many at-bats in the bottom fifth, with Shin Min-hyeok on the mound this time. With two outs and nobody on, Kim struck out swinging on an 88.1 miles-per-hour fastball up in the zone.

Against new pitcher Choi Jun-yong in the bottom eighth, Kim popped out to second baseman Kim Hye-seong, his former KBO teammate.

Kim Ha-seong fielded just one ball on defense at shortstop, grabbing a chopper by Kim Hye-seong and making a nice running throw to first in the top of the third inning.

Kim Ha-seong is entering the fourth and final year of his contract with the Padres. In 2023, Kim captured the Gold Glove at the utility position, becoming the first Asian infielder to win the prestigious defensive prize. (Yonhap)