Tampa Bay, July 5, 2025 —** In a somber turn of events, Rays manager **Kevin Cash** left fans disappointed tonight after announcing that newly acquired infielder **Ha‑Seong Kim** will be sidelined indefinitely following a concerning injury during his highly anticipated debut.
After months of rehabbing a shoulder surgery, Kim made his long-awaited Tampa Bay debut Friday against the Twins. He notched his first hit for the Rays with a sharp single in the seventh inning but immediately signalled distress as he attempted to steal third base—grimacing in significant discomfort before exiting the game. Cash revealed afterward that the play resulted in a **right calf cramp**, not a flare‑up of the surgically repaired shoulder.
“At this point, it’s day‑to‑day,” Cash said, his voice heavy with regret. “We’ll check on it through the night and into tomorrow.” The pinch was added that trainers and staff were closely monitoring Kim’s condition, though he was officially scratched from Saturday’s starting lineup.
The injury is a gut‑wrenching setback for Rays fans, who were eager to see Kim—fresh off a **two‑year, \$29 million** deal signed in February—add his Gold Glove–caliber defense and speed to a surging Rays roster . His sudden absence leaves a gap in a lineup where his athleticism had already sparked hope for a fresh boost.
Rays officials are optimistic Kim’s injury isn’t serious. “He said it’s just a cramp and didn’t seem too worried,” manager Cash relayed. For now, however, the team is bracing for the worst possible scenario: that Kim may miss multiple games ahead as they wait for him to fully recover.
Meanwhile, veteran infielder Taylor Walls is expected to fill in at shortstop as the Rays regroup. The team hopes to receive clarity on Kim’s status following medical exams over the next 48 hours.
