The LA Dodgers' Kim Hye-sung received praise from Dodgers manager Dave Roberts for his outstanding performance.
The LA Dodgers won 10-1 against the Miami Marlins at LoanDepot Park in Miami, Florida, on the 8th (Korean time). Batting from the 8th position as a center fielder, Kim Hye-sung recorded 2 hits, 1 run batted in, and 1 run scored in 4 at-bats.
In three starting appearances, he recorded multi-hits twice. During the three-game series against Miami, he achieved 5 hits, 2 runs batted in, and 3 runs scored in 12 at-bats, with a batting average of .417 and an OPS of .834.
Japanese media Full Account reported after the game that "Roberts praised Korean talent. He was very impressed by Kim Hye-sung's performance."
Roberts praised Kim Hye-sung, saying, "He has a unique sense at the plate, and I like his swing, hitting, and dynamic speed. He is a type of player we don’t often see on our team. I also like his focus and energy."
According to Full Account, at the end of his comments on Kim Hye-sung, Roberts noted, "He will also play tomorrow (the 9th)." The Dodgers will start a four-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks on the 9th. Kim Hye-sung will make his fourth consecutive start.
On the 8th against Miami, the Dodgers' starting lineup included Shohei Ohtani (designated hitter), Mookie Betts (shortstop), Freddie Freeman (first baseman), Andy Pahes (right fielder), Max Muncy (third baseman), Michael Conforto (left fielder), Kiké Hernández (second baseman), Kim Hye-sung (center fielder), and Austin Barnes (catcher). The starting pitcher was Landonack. The previous day, outfielder Teoscar Hernández was placed on the injured list, leading to Kim Hye-sung's first start as a center fielder.
In the third inning, leading off, Kim Hye-sung faced Florida's right-handed starter Valente Beloz. On a 1-ball, 1-strike count, he hit Beloz's third pitch, a 78.4 mph sweeper, but was out on a ground ball to the first baseman.
In the fifth inning, with two outs, in his second at-bat against Beloz, he hit a 92.3 mph four-seam fastball on the sixth pitch during a 2-ball, 2-strike count, but the well-hit ball was caught by the center fielder as he backed up. The ball had a speed of 96.6 mph (155.5 km/h) and a launch angle of 20 degrees, which was disappointing as it went straight to the center fielder.
Leading 1-0 in the seventh inning, the Dodgers had James Outman pinch hit, reaching base on a walk with one out, and Kiké hitting a single to left to create a scoring chance on 1st and 2nd. Kim Hye-sung hit a 1-RBI single that slipped between 1st and 2nd base against right-handed pitcher Lake Bachar's 87.3 mph low slider. The Dodgers then created a big inning.
Barnes struck out, but Ohtani reached on an intentional walk. With two outs and the bases loaded, Betts walked to force in a run, and Freeman hit a bases-clearing triple to right-center, making it 6-0. Kim Hye-sung recorded his third run of the season. Pahes's single to left extended the lead to 7-0.
In the top of the eighth, Kim Hye-sung came to bat for the fourth time with one out and a runner on first. Against right-handed pitcher Roni Hernández, he hit an 86.5 mph sweeper on a 1-ball, 2-strike count for a single that fell in front of the right fielder. He succeeded in achieving a multi-hit game. Although he created a scoring chance with one out and runners on 1st and 2nd, Barnes flied out to left field, and Ohtani flew out to center field.
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