Topps redemption mail - Ha-Seong Kim

I pulled an autograph redemption in one of the 2021 Topps Stadium Club blaster boxes I picked up online - reading horror stories about not receiving a card promised and/or where the time element really drags on, I was pleased to get my promised card in about two weeks after entering the scratch off code.

I don't know much about Kim except he was a big time star in Korea and was supposed to provide immediate impact - however, he might be more of a future considerations guy at this point, buried on the San Diego Padres roster.

While it may have been a natural fit see Kim playing for Fernando Tatis Jr., who has since returned but is now playing the outfield - it just made more sense for the Padres to have made Jake Cronenworth to be their primary shortstop, where the 2021 All-Star gets the opportunity to play one position for a good stretch of games.

Maybe there was a scenario where Kim could have been the shortstop while Cronenworth played second base - but Adam Frazier is at second base, so at this point, two All-Stars aren't going to be moved around to make playing time for a guy who is still a bit of an unknown quality in Kim.

With how things quickly change with high end contending teams trying to upgrade when possible, who knows knows if Kim is in the Padres’ long term plans - if Kim isn't given a chance to play every day somewhere in the next few years, he'll be back posting superstar numbers overseas somewhere.