Seoul: About to be posted for teams in Major League Baseball (MLB), South Korean national team infielder Song Sung-mun has been generating some buzz in the U.S. media. Most recently, The Athletic described the 29-year-old infielder for the Kiwoom Heroes as "a versatile defender who has greatly improved his plate production over the past two seasons."

According to Yonhap News Agency, after seven mostly mediocre seasons in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), Song indeed had his breakout campaign in 2024, batting .340/.409/.518 with career highs of 19 home runs, 104 RBIs, and 21 steals. This year, Song emerged from a slow start to put up a .315/.387/.530 line with 26 home runs, 90 RBIs, and 25 steals. He established new career highs with 103 runs and 37 doubles.

Those two seasons alone have been enough to attract interest from MLB clubs, but Song said Saturday he isn't close to the level reached by his ex-Heroes teammates who've made their way to the majors - San Francisco Giants outfielder Lee Jung-hoo, Los Angeles Dodgers utility man Kim Hye-seong, and free agent infielder Kim Ha-seong.

"I am a bit old, and this will be my first and last crack at MLB," Song said before South Korea hosted the Czech Republic in an exhibition game at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul. "Kim Ha-seong, Lee Jung-hoo, and Kim Hye-seong were all top players in the KBO before they moved over. I just put up some decent numbers the last couple of years."

The Athletic noted Song, a primary third baseman who can also play first base and second base, is "a level below" Kim Ha-seong, an All-Star shortstop in the KBO who turned himself into a Gold Glove-winning defender in MLB. Song said even that description flattered him.

"I think they think too highly of me. I am several levels below Kim Ha-seong," Song said. "I can't say with any confidence that I am the best in any one aspect of the game. But at least I can handle multiple infield positions, and that's my strength."

Song said he had to learn to play different positions earlier in his career "just to get into games." As for his offensive outburst over the past two seasons, Song said, "I was so bad in my early years that these recent seasons look good in comparison."

"I struggled early on this year but was able to overcome that to put up strong numbers," Song added. "I felt like I grew at least a little."

Song said he was "a really lucky guy" to have played with three future MLB players in the KBO. "I learned so much from them, and I've been able to lean on those lessons to put on good performances in front of MLB scouts," Song added. "But I will have to maintain an objective view of myself. If I have an opportunity to play in MLB, then I will do my best. If I end up staying put in Korea, I will play the best I can for the Kiwoom Heroes."