Korean star Song Sung-mun expected to add versatility to Padres

Kiwoom Heroes third baseman Song Sung-mun speaks after winning the Golden Glove award during the ceremony at Lotte Hotel World in Seoul, Dec. 9. Yonhap

Apparently on his way to join the San Diego Padres, South Korean league All-Star Song Sung-mun is expected to add versatility to the infield that still has some lingering question marks.

Reports out of the United States, Friday (local time), said Song had agreed to a contract with the Padres, and the deal would be finalized pending a physical. The Kiwoom Heroes star had been posted for all 30 Major League Baseball (MLB) clubs last month, and his 30-day negotiating window is set to close at 5 p.m. (Eastern Time) Sunday.

Offensively, Song has been among the very best in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) in the past two seasons. He had a breakout campaign at age 28 last year, when he hit .340/.409/.518 and set career highs with 19 homers, 104 RBIs and 21 steals.

This year, Song put up a .315/.387/.530 line, 26 home runs, 90 RBIs and 25 steals. He also earned his first Golden Glove award at third base as the best overall player at the position.

Song has also taken major strides defensively. He collected his first KBO Fielding Award at third base in 2025 and is also capable of playing second base. He has even logged time at first base, though not in 2025.

The Padres currently have an opening at first base, with Luis Arraez, who manned first base for them for the last season and a half, now a free agent. Song last played first base in 2024, with 32 games there.

The Padres do have some flexibility, with the versatile Jake Cronenworth capable of sliding from second base to first. He played first base in 106 games as recently as 2023.

The Padres have an aging Manny Machado and Xander Bogaerts as their regular third baseman and shortstop, respectively, and Song could spell Machado occasionally for an off-day or a DH day, or Cronenworth could play shortstop for Bogaerts with Song taking over at second.

Cronenworth has been in trade rumors this offseason, and another possibility is that Song simply ends up as a replacement for Cronenworth at second base if the latter is dealt.

All three South Korean players who finished the 2025 season on MLB rosters were Song's teammates with the Heroes: Kim Ha-seong of the Atlanta Braves, Lee Jung-hoo of the San Francisco Giants and Kim Hye-seong of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Once the Padres deal is finalized, Song will be in the same National League West division with Lee and Kim Hye-seong.

In 2026, the Padres will play the Giants and the Dodgers 13 times each, and will face the Braves seven times.