Sung-Mun Song is a late bloomer projected as more of a utility player than an everyday player. Gene Wang / Getty Images
The San Diego Padres have reinforced their offense, agreeing to a three-year contract with South Korean infielder Sung-Mun Song, pending a physical, a league source confirmed to The Athletic on Friday.
The deal, first reported by FanSided, will guarantee Song roughly $15 million, the source said, while giving the Padres a left-handed hitter capable of manning every infield position other than shortstop.
Song, 29, is a late-blooming former teammate of ex-Padres shortstop Ha-Seong Kim. This past season for the Korea Baseball Organization’s Kiwoom Heroes, Song batted .315 with a .387 on-base percentage, 26 home runs and 25 stolen bases.
Some talent evaluators project Song as more of a big-league utility player than an everyday player. He significantly improved his offensive production over the last two seasons in the KBO, logging an OPS above .900 in both years after annually finishing below .700 from 2021-23. (For comparison, Kim produced an OPS above .800 in each of his six full seasons in the KBO.) Song has primarily played third base, with additional experience at second base and first base.
For the Padres, Song could spend most of his time at the latter two positions and occasionally fill in for third baseman Manny Machado. San Diego has another left-handed-hitting infielder, Jake Cronenworth, entrenched at second base, although Cronenworth has been a trade candidate throughout the offseason.
The Heroes posted Song for big-league teams last month, opening a 30-day window for him to reach a stateside agreement by Sunday. The Padres will owe the Heroes a posting fee equal to 20 percent of the total contract guarantee.