Kim Hye-seong, who is staying in Triple-A under the Los Angeles Dodgers, is struggling against adversity but is showcasing his strengths well, ranking first in stolen bases in Triple-A. Does the Dodgers really not need a "specialist" like Kim Hye-seong?

Kim Hye-seong, who is affiliated with the Oklahoma City Dodgers in Triple-A, started as the number one shortstop in a minor league away game against the Salt Lake Bees on the 27th (Korea time) and performed well with 2 hits in 4 at-bats, 1 walk, and 1 run scored.

From the first at-bat in the first inning, Kim Hye-seong fought tenaciously as a leadoff hitter. He had a nine-pitch battle with opposing starter Chase Silseth, and on the ninth pitch, he hit a 94.5-mile sinker for a single to left field. He produced a line drive with a speed of 96.6 miles per hour. After successfully stealing second base, which marked his 11th stolen base of the season, Kim Hye-seong touched home during Ryan Ward's two-run homer.

In the third inning, with the score tied 3-3, Kim Hye-seong faced his second at-bat, enduring the opposing team's persistent challenges inside and reached base via a walk. He advanced to second base on a balk by the opposing pitcher, but there were no subsequent hits.

In the fourth inning, Kim Hye-seong came to bat for the third time as the leadoff hitter. Again, he faced a full-count with seven pitches but grounded out to the second baseman. In the seventh inning, he came to bat for the fourth time as the leadoff hitter and attempted to handle a first pitch 93.7-mile sinker but grounded out to first base.

In his fifth at-bat in the ninth inning, Kim Hye-seong batted as the leadoff hitter again, facing pitcher Kenyon Yovan, and had a seven-pitch full count battle. He then connected with an 88.7-mile cutter for a double, achieving a multi-hit game to close out the day.

With this, Kim Hye-seong completed a multi-hit game after five games, following a multi-hit game with a home run and 2 hits in 4 at-bats in the first game of a doubleheader against the Tacoma RAINIERS on the 21st.

His season batting average has risen to .263, and his on-base plus slugging (OPS) has also increased to .809. He has surpassed an OPS of .800 again. Additionally, by adding one more stolen base on that day, he has recorded a total of 11 stolen bases for the season, marking a tie for first place in stolen bases in the Triple-A Pacific Coast League. Currently, his success rate is 100%.

Currently, Kim Hye-seong's batting average and OPS, among other records, do not demonstrate complete dominance over Triple-A. Still, he certainly shows his presence at the plate and excels in speed and stolen base categories, which were considered his original strengths. No matter how you look at it, achieving double-digit stolen bases with a success rate of 100% is no easy feat in Triple-A.

For the Dodgers, such mobility could be necessary. The Dodgers escaped a three-game losing streak with an 8-4 comeback victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on the 27th. They have a season record of 17 wins and 10 losses. Despite being evaluated as having overwhelming strength compared to competitors like the San Francisco Giants and San Diego Padres in the division, the Dodgers have been struggling once the season began.

The production of the MVP trio, including Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman, is not what it once was. Mookie Betts and Freeman are struggling to find their form due to minor injuries and ongoing issues with their condition. Ohtani also had three doubles and a triple in a game against Milwaukee, indicating he is regaining his power hitting, but his recent performance has been affected since returning from parental leave.

They need to find different ways to score, but that is not easy either. Currently, the team's total runs are 124. They average just 4.43 runs per game over 28 games, falling far short of last year's average of 5.19 runs per game.

Andy Pages, who competed for a roster spot with Kim Hye-seong, has come alive recently, recording a batting average of .500 (9 hits in 18 at-bats) with 2 home runs in the last five games. He produced three hits in two consecutive games against Pittsburgh on the 26th and 27th. His average has risen from .159 to .244.

In contrast, Max Muncy and Michael Conforto are struggling with batting averages below .200. In particular, outfielder Michael Conforto, who signed a one-year contract worth $17 million (approximately 24.5 billion won), has a batting average of only .071 (1 hit in 14 at-bats) in the last five games, dropping his season average to .179. Chris Taylor, who could platoon with Conforto, has recorded just 3 hits in 12 at-bats and a batting average of .250.

Even if they are struggling in hitting, there's no other way to contribute to scoring. The Dodgers' lineup is generally sluggish, making it hard to find players who can create a variable through mobility. Ohtani leads the team with 6 stolen bases, while Mookie Betts and Teoscar Hernández both have 2, and Tommy Edman, Andy Pages, and Will Smith each have 1. The team's total stolen bases are just 13, ranking 26th in Major League Baseball.

Kim Hye-seong is now adapting to a new batting stance. Although his batting average is disappointing, his power hitting is decent with 4 home runs, 8 doubles, and 1 triple. His base running, utilizing his speed, is also impressive. From the Dodgers' perspective, such special abilities from Kim Hye-seong might be necessary. However, the Dodgers have not shown any signs of calling him up yet.

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