KBO Star Song Lands MLB Deal

San Diego Padres have finalized a four-year contract with South Korean infielder Sung-Mun Song, marking his transition from the KBO League to Major League Baseball. The agreement, announced on Monday, December 22, 2025, includes $15 million in guaranteed money with an opt-out clause after the first three seasons and a $7 million mutual option for the 2030 season.

Song, a 29-year-old left-handed hitter, spent most of the past decade as a regular in the KBO League, primarily with the Kiwoom Heroes, where he earned All-Star honors at third base. His breakout performances in 2024 and 2025 led to his posting by the Heroes on November 22, 2025, initiating a 30-day negotiation window with MLB clubs.

Prior to signing, Song consulted extensively with Ha-Seong Kim, who played for the Padres from 2021 to 2024, about his experience in San Diego. Kim shared insights about the team’s camaraderie, staff and the city’s appeal, which influenced Song’s decision to join the organization.

In his first public remarks as a Padre, Song expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity, stating through interpreter Sam Jeong that he was “very excited to be a part of the Padres family” and thanked the club for its faith in his abilities. He emphasized Kim’s encouragement regarding his readiness to compete at the MLB level as a key motivator.

Song joins a growing contingent of South Korean position players in MLB, following predecessors such as Jung Hoo Lee (San Francisco Giants), Ha-Seong Kim (formerly with San Diego), and Hyeseong Kim (Los Angeles Dodgers). His signing underscores the Padres’ continued investment in international talent during the 2025–2026 offseason, which also included a recent agreement to re-sign starting pitcher Michael King.

The contract reflects the club’s strategy of securing versatile, high-contact hitters with defensive flexibility. While primarily a third baseman in Korea, Song’s athleticism and bat-to-ball skills suggest potential utility across multiple infield positions as he adapts to the higher velocity and breaking pitch prevalence in the National League West.

As of the announcement date, no further details regarding spring training assignments or early-season role projections have been released by the Padres’ front office. The club is expected to provide updates during Cactus League play in February 2026.