The batting average in the Triple-A minor league is also in the low .200s. When will Kim Hye-seong wear an LA Dodgers uniform and step onto the big league stage?

Kim Hye-seong, who is a member of the LA Dodgers' Triple-A affiliate Oklahoma City Dodgers, started as the center fielder batting sixth in a home game against the 2025 Minor League El Paso Chihuahuas (affiliated with the San Diego Padres) at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on the 2nd (Korean time), contributing to the team's 4-1 victory with 1 hit and 1 run in 4 at-bats.

In the bottom of the first inning, tied 0-0, Kim Hye-seong had a two-out bases loaded opportunity. However, he faced Wes Benjamin, who was with the KT Wiz until last year, and struck out swinging on the fourth pitch, a high 91.2 mph (146 km/h) four-seam fastball, in a 1B-2S disadvantageous count, missing the chance.

Benjamin, who has worn the KT uniform since 2022, failed to re-sign after recording an 11-8 win-loss record and a 4.63 earned run average in 28 games last year, and signed a minor league contract with San Diego. In the previous year, Kim Hye-seong also struggled against Benjamin, going 1 for 9 with a batting average of .111.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, still tied 0-0, Kim Hye-seong went down swinging for the second out with no runners on base. He faced Raul Brito, swinging and missing on the first pitch strike and the second pitch foul, before swinging and missing on a high fastball that clocked 94.1 mph (151 km/h).

The third at-bat was different. In the bottom of the sixth inning, with a 3-1 lead and one out and no runners on base, he attacked a 90.5 mph (145 km/h) sinker left by the changed pitcher, left-hander Tom Cosgrove, driving it for a double to the left field. He then scored after rounding third base on Hunter Feduccia's single.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, with a 4-1 lead and two outs and a runner on first base, Kim Hye-seong grounded out to first base to end his at-bat. He added one double on the day, bringing his Triple-A season batting average to .215 and slugging percentage to .500. Considering the depth of the Dodgers' lineup, a significant performance in Triple-A is needed unless injuries occur, but a call-up seems distant for now.

Meanwhile, a familiar face emerged from the El Paso lineup and took an at-bat. Jonathan Morán, who played for Hanwha Eagles last year, started as the designated hitter batting sixth, recording 1 hit and 2 strikeouts in 4 at-bats.

Morán left an impact last year with a batting average of .275, 24 home runs, 70 RBIs, and 75 runs scored in 122 games with Hanwha, but, like Benjamin, failed to extend his contract. He is looking to make it to the big leagues through the San Diego minor league.

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