San francisco: Song Sung-mun of the San Diego Padres celebrated his first major league start with a big day at the plate and on the bases. Song, batting ninth and playing second base, stuffed the box score by going 2-for-4 with two RBIs, two runs, and a steal as the Padres beat the San Francisco Giants 10-5 at Oracle Park. Those were Song's first hits, RBIs, runs, and steal in Major League Baseball (MLB).
According to Yonhap News Agency, Song was called up just before the game to start at second base in place of Jake Cronenworth, who was placed on the seven-day injured list with concussion symptoms. Song had earned his first call-up from Triple-A El Paso during the Mexico Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks on April 25 as their 27th player, with the two participating teams allowed to carry an extra player for the international series. He made his MLB debut as a pinch runner on April 26 but was demoted back to the minors the next day.
Song, who had been riding an eight-game hitting streak in the minors, will now get a chance for a more extensive opportunity in MLB. After flying out to left field in the top of the third in his first at-bat, Song delivered a two-out, two-run double off Giants starter Logan Webb as part of the five-run fourth inning for the Padres.
Song took a first-pitch sweeper for a ball and then sent a belt-high cutter to deep center field. The ball hit the wall on a hop as both Nick Castellanos and Luis Campusano scored to put the Padres ahead 5-4. Song advanced to third when a throw by shortstop Willy Adames got past catcher Jesus Rodriguez. Song then scored the Padres's sixth run-and his first career run-on a follow-up single by Jackson Merrill.
Song grounded out to second in the fifth before picking up an infield single in the eighth inning. Song then swiped second base for his first career steal and took third base on a throwing error by Rodriguez. Merrill drove Song home with a double to make it a 9-5 game in favor of the visiting Padres. Merrill scored on a balk later in the inning to round out the scoring.
Song, a former All-Star in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), signed a four-year contract with the Padres in December last year but started the 2026 season on the IL while recovering from an oblique injury. In 25 games in Triple-A, Song batted .293/.364/.354 with a home run, 15 RBIs, and a steal.
In Tuesday's game, Song went up against Giants right fielder Lee Jung-hoo, his former KBO teammate with the Kiwoom Heroes. Lee went 1-for-4 with an RBI and scored a run from the leadoff spot. Lee batted .312 in April to raise his season average from .190 to .297 but has gone cold in May with just two hits in 18 at-bats this month. He is now batting .271.