San Diego Padres right-hander Nick Martinez has revealed his affection for teammate Ha Sung Kim.

“Kimmy (Kim’s nickname)스포츠토토 is a great friend,” Martinez told the Padres media during the team’s game against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, Washington, USA, on 10 October.

Describing Kim as “a player with a lot of energy,” Martinez added, “I like that he’s speaking more and more Spanish than English.”

Kim is loved by his teammates. Photo via AFPBBNews = News1
Kim lives with an interpreter and uses her to communicate in formal settings, such as interviews with local media, but it’s not uncommon to see him chatting with his teammates without a translator.

In the process, his colleagues have revealed that he speaks Spanish as well as English.

The Padres have other Spanish-speaking players on the team, including Fernando Tatis Jr, Manny Machado, and Juan Soto.

It’s no wonder that Kim, who is in his third season in the major leagues, hasn’t picked up much Spanish.

“I like his trash talk in Spanish,” Martinez said, “and I love his energy. He brings life to the team and makes it fun for the players. He’s a pleasure to be around,” Martinez said of his teammate.

Meanwhile, Kim Ha-seong started at second base in the first game of the day and got a hit, extending his hitting streak to 15 games.