This is a Triple-A game that draws as much attention as Major League Baseball.
The Los Angeles Dodgers' Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers will play against the San Diego Padres' Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on the 30th (Korean time).
Kim Hye-seong, who failed to make the Major League opening roster at the Dodgers' spring camp, is playing in Oklahoma City. Clayton Kershaw, who has completed his rehabilitation, will start as Oklahoma City's pitcher for today's game.
Kershaw suffered a left thumb injury in a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Aug. 31 last year and was sidelined for the season. After the season, he underwent surgery on his thumb and left knee. Kershaw signed a one-year contract worth $7.5 million with the Dodgers for this season, which includes incentives that could raise the total to $16 million.
Kershaw recently made two rehabilitation appearances in the minor leagues. On the 17th, he started in a game wearing the Oklahoma City uniform against the Triple-A Tacoma RAYs (affiliated with the Seattle Mariners), pitching three innings with two hits allowed, two strikeouts, and no runs.
On the 23rd, he started in a game as part of the Dodgers' Double-A Tulsa affiliate against the Northwest Arkansas Naturals (affiliated with the Kansas City Royals), pitching three innings with four hits allowed, four strikeouts, one walk, and one earned run. This was his third rehabilitation game.
The starting pitcher for El Paso is Kyle Hart, who played for the NC Dinos last year. He is a familiar player to KBO League fans. Hart recorded 13 wins, 3 losses, a 2.69 earned run average, and 182 strikeouts while at NC last year, earning the Golden Glove and the best pitcher award in the institutional sector.
He rejected NC's re-signing offer and returned to the big leagues with a one-plus-one year contract worth up to $8.5 million with San Diego. The contract includes a guarantee of $1.5 million for the first year, with next year's contract being a club option.
Hart was included in the San Diego opening roster and pitched in the starting rotation. However, he struggled, going 2-2 with a 6.00 earned run average in five games (21 innings), and was demoted to Triple-A on the 26th.
Kim Hye-seong is batting .252 with four home runs, 17 RBIs, 20 runs scored, and 12 stolen bases in 24 games at Triple-A, with an OPS of .779. There is anticipation to see if Kim Hye-seong will show his presence in the matchup between Kershaw and Hart.
Meanwhile, Kim Hye-seong faced Hart six times in last year's KBO League, with one hit in six at-bats (.167) and four strikeouts.
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