Will Kim Hye-sung of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Shohei Ohtani's scoring formula be activated once again?
Kim Hye-sung will start as the 9th second baseman in the game against the Los Angeles Angels at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, on the 17th (Korean time). This marks his 3rd consecutive start.
Kim Hye-sung has played 12 games this season with a batting average of .429 (28 at-bats, 12 hits), 1 home run, 5 RBIs, 2 walks, 3 stolen bases, and an OPS of 1.038.
Recently, he showcased exceptional batting performance in the last 2 games. In his home debut against the Athletics on the 15th, he hit his first home run, going 2-for-2 with 1 RBI and 1 run scored.
And the day before (16th), in the game against the Athletics, he went 3-for-3 with 2 walks, 2 RBIs, and 4 runs scored, marking his first game with 3 hits and 5 times on base, demonstrating his peak batting form.
In the previous game, when Kim Hye-sung reached base, it activated the scoring formula where Ohtani brought him home with a home run, leading to a 19-2 victory for the Dodgers. They now hope this formula can be activated once again against the Angels.
After the game, Dodgers coach Dave Roberts praised Kim Hye-sung's role and impact. He noted, “If the lower lineup doesn’t connect to the upper lineup, opportunities don’t arise. In that case, it makes it much easier for the pitcher to work against Ohtani with no runners on base. But thanks to Kim Hye-sung, the situation has completely changed. He consistently reaches base, creating scenarios where there are always runners on the bases. Kim Hye-sung's speed puts significant stress on the opponent. It creates a much better environment to generate offense, such as stealing bases or advancing from first to third. He is certainly connecting the opportunities for the top lineup.”
Can Kim Hye-sung once again effectively serve as the trigger in the lower lineup and the consolidation of the team?
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