The 'Dodgers Beat' caught attention by suggesting on the 8th (Korean time) that Kim Hye-sung, who is playing for the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers, should be called up to the big leagues.

Kim Hye-sung, who graduated from Dongsan High School, began his professional career after being selected in the second round of the 2017 draft by Nexen Heroes. Until last year, he had played in 953 games in the first team, recording a batting average of .304 (1,043 hits in 3,433 at-bats), 37 home runs, 386 RBIs, 591 runs scored, 211 stolen bases, and an OPS of .767.

From 2021 to 2024, Kim Hye-sung won one Gold Glove as a shortstop and three Gold Gloves as a second baseman, being referred to as a regular member of the national team during events like the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2020, the 2023 World Baseball Classic, the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, and the 2023 Asia Professional Baseball Championship.

Last year, Kim Hye-sung successfully finished the season with a batting average of .326 (166 hits in 509 at-bats), 11 home runs, 75 RBIs, 90 runs scored, 30 stolen bases, and an OPS of .841. He pushed for a Major League Baseball entry through the posting system and signed a contract with the Dodgers for a maximum of $22 million over 3+2 years.

Kim Hye-sung received good evaluations for his defense and baserunning, but his performance in offense did not meet expectations. He finished with a batting average of .270 (6 hits in 29 at-bats), 1 home run, 3 RBIs, 6 runs scored, and 2 stolen bases in spring training, failing to make the Tokyo series roster and starting the season in Triple-A. As of the 7th, Kim Hye-sung is batting .273 (9 hits in 33 at-bats), recording 6 RBIs, 7 runs scored, 2 stolen bases, and an OPS of .823.

'Dodgers Beat' noted, "Center fielder Andy Paheas has shown poor performance in both offense and defense during the early part of this season. His batting average is only .118, with an OPS of .415, as he is struggling to regain his hitting touch. He had a significant impact on the team's loss by failing to properly judge a fly ball in the game against the Philadelphia Phillies on the 7th."

Manager Dave Roberts said about Paheas, "Even if he is a young player, baseball must be based on fundamentals. Mistakes like baserunning errors need to be reduced."

The media stated, "Amid Paheas's underperformance, the attention of fans and local media naturally shifts to Kim Hye-sung. Kim Hye-sung, who joined the Dodgers this season, started the season in Triple-A and is adapting to the pitches of Major League Baseball by playing various positions."

It added, "Kim Hye-sung is currently posting decent stats with a batting average of .273, an on-base percentage of .368, and an OPS of .823. Recently, a video surfaced showing Kim Hye-sung sharing a hug in the Triple-A dugout, leading to speculation among fans about the possibility of a big league call-up."

'Dodgers Beat' remarked, "Although there has been no official announcement from the club yet, Kim Hye-sung's defensive abilities and versatility are considered to potentially help solve the team's issues," and noted, "The Dodgers will closely review whether Kim Hye-sung’s promotion to the big leagues would be an appropriate choice for strengthening the team’s roster."

The Dodgers have given up the top spot in the National League West to the San Francisco Giants. The media remarked, "While Paheas's growth remains a vital task, voices are increasing that a roster reshuffle is needed to address the team's immediate challenges and maintain league competitiveness," placing emphasis on the possibility of Kim Hye-sung's call-up to the big leagues.

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