Kim Ha-seong of the South Korean Padres leaves the game due to a shoulder injury

Kim Ha-seong of the San Diego Padres (center) leaves the field with a shoulder injury after sliding to first base on a pickoff attempt during a Major League Baseball regular-season game against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado, on Aug. 18. Yonhap

Kim Ha-seong of the San Diego Padres left his last game with a shoulder injury after jumping back to first base on a pickoff attempt.

Kim injured his right shoulder in the third inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field in Denver on Sunday (local time). He opened the inning with a single against starter Bradley Blalock, and when Luis Arraez was at bat, Kim safely dove back to base as the right-hander tried to field him.

After ruling it safe to play, Kim immediately called for help from the team room and got to his feet, visibly in pain and holding his right shoulder. He left the field under his own power, holding his shoulder.

The Padres later said Kim sprained his shoulder and an MRI would be performed on Monday to determine the extent of his injury. It was not immediately clear whether Kim would need a stint on the injured list (IL). Kim has never been on the IL since joining the Padres in 2021.

“We'll have to look at the MRI pictures tomorrow and try to determine the extent of the damage,” Kim told MLB.com through interpreter David Lee. “But I'm just trying to stay optimistic and get back as soon as possible.”

Kim was replaced on the bases by Tyler Wade, who has recently been his replacement at shortstop.

This is the final season of Kim's four-year, $28 million contract with the Padres. The contract includes a $10 million mutual option for 2025. He was expected to decline that option because he could demand more money on the open market with a longer contract, but the severity of his shoulder injury could change that.

Kim has a batting average of .233/.330/.370 with 11 home runs, 47 RBIs and 22 steals in 121 games this season.

Last year, he won the National League Gold Glove at the all-around position, becoming the first Asian-born infielder to claim the award for best defense after splitting his time at second base, shortstop and third base. Kim is back to being a full-time shortstop this year, but his defense has slipped a bit by advanced standards. (Yonhap)