Kim Ha-seong (28, San Diego Padres) maxed out his 600 at-bat option and pocketed a whopping $1 million (about $1.35 billion). The size of the incentive in the major leagues is different, as he received the KBO’s new foreign player cap as a bonus.

Kim Ha-seong started at third base in the fifth spot in the lineup against the San Francisco Giants on April 26 (KST) and went hitless in four at-bats, but he surpassed the 601 plate appearances mark for the season. As a result, he earned all of his $1 million in at-bat incentives this year. The extra income came from his steady performance as a full-time starter without any major injuries.

Kim, who signed a 4+1 year, $28 million guaranteed, $39 million maximum deal with San Diego in January 2021, has an at-bat incentive each season. Based on 400 at-bats, the amount accumulates in increments of 50 at-bats until 600. It’s $100,000 for 400 at-bats, $200,000 for 450 at-bats, $200,000 for 500 at-bats, $250,000 for 550 at-bats, and $250,000 for 600 at-bats, up to a maximum of $1 million.

In his first year as a backup in 2021, Kim didn’t earn a dime in incentives in 117 games and 298 at-bats. But last year, when he became the starting shortstop, he earned an additional $750,000 for 150 games and 582 at-bats, and this year, he fully met the 600-at-bat requirement and earned the full $1 million. His base salary of $7 million plus $1 million in incentives brings his total earnings this year to $8 million.

Kim played in 147 of San Diego’s 157 games this year. He missed only 10 games. Playing primarily as a mobile second baseman, he stole a team-high 36 bases and played a full season despite the physical demands of the offense. He’s had some scary injury moments, but he’s been incredibly resilient. His longest absence came last week when he missed four straight games with an unexplained stomach bug.

Kim has certainly opened up his bat this season, hitting .356 with 17 home runs, 58 RBIs, 83 runs scored, 73 walks, 119 strikeouts, a .405 on-base percentage, and a .761 OPS, and he’s been racking up the at-bats quickly, establishing himself as the No. 1 hitter since mid-June. Of his 601 at-bats, more than half, 335, were in the leadoff spot.토토사이트

In doing so, Kim became the second South Korean major leaguer in history to surpass 600 at-bats in a season, joining Shin-Soo Choo (SSG Rangers). Choo Shin-soo had eight seasons with 600 or more at-bats: 2009 (685), 2010 (646), 2012 (686), 2013 (712), 2015 (653), 2017 (636), 2018 (665), and 2019 (660).

Expanding the scope to Japanese major leaguers, only six players have reached 600 at-bats in a season: Ichiro Suzuki (12 seasons), Hideki Matsui (4 seasons), Kosuke Fukudome (2 seasons), Tadahito Iguchi, Akinori Iwamura, and Norichika Aoki (at least 1 season). This year, Seiya Suzuki (Chicago Cubs) and Masataka Yoshida (Boston Red Sox) have reached 560 and 563 at-bats, respectively, but with only six games left in the season, they’ll be hard-pressed to reach 600.