Kim Ha-seong (28, San Diego Padres), the first Asian infielder to win the Gold Glove, which is awarded to the best defender at each position in Major League Baseball (MLB), has been named to the 2023 All-MLB Team at second base, which recognizes the best players at each position this year. In the position-specific nominations for the All-MLB Team, announced by the MLB office today, Kim earned a spot on the list of eight nominees at second base, alongside “Little Giant” Jose Altuve (Houston Astros) and this year’s National League Gold Glove winner at second base, Nico Horner (Chicago Cubs).Kim was recognized as the National League’s winner of the Utility Yield Award, which recognizes the best all-around player in the game, on the list of this year’s bi-league Gold Glove winners announced on June 6. In his third year in the big leagues, Kim set new career highs in batting average (.260), home runs (17), RBIs (60) and stolen bases (38) this season and was also nominated for the Silver Slugger Utility Player Award, which recognizes the best hitter at each position.

Established in 2019, the All-MLB Teams are a sort of All-Star team concept that encompasses the best players at each position for the year. The All-MLB First Team is comprised of the top players and the Second Team is comprised of the runners-up. The two teams are determined by a combination of 50 percent online fan voting and 50 percent voting by a panel of media members, club officials and former players. The results will be revealed on March 17.Of the 122 nominees, 45 are from outside the United States, like Kim. In addition to Kim, there are six San Diego players on the list: Fernando Tatis Jr, Blake Snell, Juan Soto, Manny Machado, and Josh Hader. Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles Angels), a two-hitting Japanese baseball prodigy who underwent surgery on his right elbow in September, is nominated in both the designated hitter and starting pitcher categories. The only South Korean player to be recognized is Ryu Hyun-jin, 36, the “Korean Monster,” who was one of five starting pitchers named to the All-MLB Second Team in consecutive 슬롯 years in 2019 and 2020.