The San Diego Padres continued their active offseason by appearing to secure one of the most sought after international free agents available. According to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand, the club has agreed to terms with Korean infielder Sung Mun Song. The Padres have not yet made an official announcement regarding the signing.
The reported agreement with Song came just hours after San Diego finalized a deal to bring back starting pitcher Michael King, further underscoring the organization’s aggressive approach to roster building. If completed, the addition of Song would mark another notable arrival from the KBO League to Major League Baseball, following the recent transitions of players such as Hyeseong Kim, Jung Hoo Lee and Ha Seong Kim.
Song, now 29, developed into one of the KBO’s premier position players over the past two seasons with the Kiwoom Heroes. An All Star third baseman, he was officially posted by Kiwoom on Nov. 22, which opened the standard 30 day window for Major League teams to negotiate a contract under the Korean posting system.
His 2025 campaign was the best of his career. Song appeared in 144 games, hitting a career high 26 home runs while also stealing 25 bases. He finished the season with a .315 batting average, a .387 on base percentage and a .530 slugging percentage, good for a .917 OPS. His impact was recognized league wide, as fellow players voted him KBO Player of the Year through the Korea Professional Baseball Players Association.
Song was nearly as productive the year before. In 2024, he played 142 games and posted a .340 batting average with 19 home runs and 21 stolen bases. He reached base at a .409 clip and recorded a .518 slugging percentage, producing a career best .927 OPS.
Originally debuting in the KBO League in 2015 at just 18 years old, Song’s offensive development took time. A left handed hitter, he gradually refined his approach and ultimately emerged as one of the league’s most consistent and dangerous bats during the past two seasons. His career includes a missed 2020 season and part of 2021 while completing mandatory military service.
Across nine KBO seasons, Song accumulated 80 home runs and 51 stolen bases in 824 games, along with a .283 average, .347 on base percentage and .431 slugging percentage. While primarily a third baseman, he has also logged time at second base and first base.
Unlike the Japanese posting system, which allows a 45 day negotiation period, the Korean system limits MLB clubs to a 30 day window to finalize deals with posted players.