The hitting streak of Kim Hye-seong (26), who plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers' Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers, has been snapped after four games. According to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts' 150-plate appearance rule, he will have to remain in the minor leagues for another month, and he must not get tired already.

Kim Hye-seong started as the leadoff center fielder in the home game against the Tacoma Rainiers, a Triple-A team under the Seattle Mariners, held on the 17th (Korean time) at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where he went 0-for-4.

Recently, Kim Hye-seong, who has been on a four-game hitting streak, saw his Triple-A season batting average drop from .284 to .268 (19 hits in 71 at-bats), and his OPS fell from .903 to .854.

Against Tacoma right-handed starter Luis F. Castillo, Kim Hye-seong was out on a line drive to shortstop in his first at-bat in the bottom of the first inning. He made good contact with a 90.5 mph (145.6 km/h) sinker, but it went directly towards the fielder.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, he struck out on a 93.1 mph (149.8 km/h) outer four-seam fastball on Castillo's fifth pitch. Then, in a two-out, two-on situation in the fifth inning, he hit a ground ball to shortstop on Castillo's third pitch changeup.

In a two-out, three-base situation in the bottom of the seventh, Kim Hye-seong hit a ground ball to first against right-hander Adonis Medina, who pitched for the KIA Tigers in the 2023 KBO League. The batted ball was off a low sweeper on the third pitch.

In center field, he handled two fly balls. Clayton Kershaw, who underwent surgery on his left knee and big toe and made his first rehab appearance on this day, pitched three innings, allowing two hits, no walks, striking out two, and not yielding any earned runs, as Oklahoma City won 3-1.

Kim Hye-seong, who signed a 3+2 year guaranteed $12.5 million contract with the Dodgers last January, with a maximum value of $22 million, struggled to adapt to major league pitchers during the exhibition games, posting a batting average of .270 (6 hits in 29 at-bats), with 1 home run, 3 RBIs, 6 runs, 4 walks, 11 strikeouts, 2 stolen bases, an on-base percentage of .303, slugging percentage of .310, and an OPS of .613.

Seeking time to adjust his batting form, Kim Hye-seong started the season in Triple-A and quickly regained his hitting touch. Considering that Oklahoma City is in the Pacific Coast League (PCA), a hitters' league, Kim Hye-seong's form has been good. He has been preparing as a utility player, moving between his primary position at second base, as well as shortstop and center field.

However, there doesn’t seem to be a mood for an immediate big league call-up. Andy Pajes, the center fielder who competed with Kim Hye-seong for the last spot on the Opening Day roster, has batted .175 (10 hits in 57 at-bats), with 2 home runs and 5 RBIs in 18 games. While interest in the possibility of calling up Kim Hye-seong has grown among Dodgers-focused media, Manager Roberts has drawn the line.

According to 'Dodger Blue' on the 15th, Manager Roberts noted, 'It’s a problem that the lower-order hitters are not getting on base,' while adding, 'In Pajes' case, I generally look at 150 plate appearances. Kiké Hernández seems to have found something at the plate in the last few days, and Miguel Rojas has also hit a few base hits. The players we currently have are our resources, so we will continue to utilize them and try to find the right combinations. We also need to give Chris Taylor plate appearances.'

Although Hernández (batting average .125, 4 home runs, 8 RBIs, OPS .564), Rojas (batting average .161, OPS .349), and Taylor (batting average .250, 1 RBI, OPS .500) have all slumped, they are experienced veterans with utility value in defense. The player Kim Hye-seong can push out is center fielder Pajes, but Manager Roberts has set the standard for player evaluation at 150 plate appearances and has expressed his intention to provide continued opportunities.

Whether Manager Roberts' faith has paid off, Pajes swung a hot bat on the 17th against the Colorado Rockies, going 2-for-4 with 3 RBIs. Up to that day, he had entered the plate 67 times, meaning he has a whopping 83 plate appearances remaining to reach 150, and it seems that Pajes will have opportunities for at least another month. Barring special circumstances such as injuries, Kim Hye-seong’s big league call-up is expected to occur no sooner than the end of May. In the meantime, Kim Hye-seong must also prepare well without getting tired.

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