Kim Hye-sung (Los Angeles Dodgers), who has risen from minor league to a .400 hitter in Major League Baseball, is making manager Dave Roberts smile brightly.
According to U.S. 'SportsNet LA', Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts recently praised Kim Hye-sung's performance in an interview with local reporters.
Roberts said, "Kim Hye-sung is really an excellent player. He shows a fearless attitude when running the bases. He got on base with a hit, and we could see his good performance in defense as well." He added, "Kim Hye-sung is really interesting. He is a player who brings energy to the Dodgers team."
On the 8th (Korean time), Kim Hye-sung, who started as the eighth center fielder in an away game against the Miami Marlins at Londepo Park in Miami, Florida, contributed to the team's 10-1 victory with a performance of 2 hits and 1 RBI in 4 at-bats.
Since his debut on the 6th, Kim Hye-sung has started in three consecutive games and faced a scoring opportunity in the top of the seventh with one out and runners on first and second, leading 1-0. He watched the first pitch strike from right-hander RAY Batcher and on the second pitch hit a low 87.3-mile (140 km) slider for a go-ahead one-run single to right. This marked his third consecutive game with a hit.
Taking advantage of the play, Kim Hye-sung advanced to second, reached third on Mookie Betts' walk, and then scored on Freddie Freeman's three-RBI triple, marking his third consecutive game scoring. The Dodgers scored a whopping 6 runs in the seventh inning, gaining momentum from Kim Hye-sung's single.
Kim Hye-sung's bat did not stop. In the eighth inning, leading 7-0 with one out and a runner on first, he hit a single to right, achieving his second multi-hit game of the season just two games after the Miami game on the 6th. This was a success targeting the fifth pitch, a low 86.5-mile (139 km) sweeper from Ronny Enriquez. However, Austin Barnes and Shohei Ohtani both made outs, ending the inning on first base.
Thanks to his multi-hit performance, Kim Hye-sung significantly raised his season batting average from .375 to .417. He showcased an impressive presence with 5 hits, 2 RBIs, and 3 runs scored in just 12 at-bats over 5 games since being called up to Major League Baseball on the 4th. At the start of the season, after experiencing the pain of being sent down to the minor leagues, he faced criticism over why he had chosen the Dodgers. However, after quietly spending time honing his skills, spring has finally arrived for him.
In an interview with local media, Kim Hye-sung said, "I still do not find big league life comfortable, but it has improved since the first day. I have trained as the team instructed, and the results have been good." He added, "I always say I'm not a home run hitter. The team doesn’t expect home runs from me. I am a hitter who needs to get on base. I will focus on reaching base."
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