Los Angeles Dodgers player Kim Hye-sung (26) made a major mistake in an unfamiliar outfield position. However, he secured a spot on the roster with performance that exceeded expectations, and praise for his batting has been continuous.

On the 20th (Korean time), Kim Hye-sung started as the No. 9 batter and center fielder in a home game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, for the 2025 Major League Baseball season, going 0-for-4. This marked the end of a five-game hitting streak based on his starting appearances.

He made a mistake in defense that led to a run. In the first inning with one out and runners on first and second, he completely missed a high fly ball hit by Arizona's Eugenio Suarez to center field and failed to communicate properly, causing right fielder Teoscar Hernández's backup to be delayed. The official scoring credited Suarez with a one-RBI double, but it was clearly a mistake by Kim Hye-sung.

The broadcast team from the Dodgers' dedicated channel, SportsNet LA, expressed disappointment. Commentator Joe Davis said, "It was an ugly moment. Kim Hye-sung completely lost sight of the ball, and it was too late for Hernández to make the catch." Analyst Oral Hershiser noted, "In this time frame of the sunset, visibility at Dodger Stadium is difficult, particularly for players with little experience in center field. He should have asked another outfielder for help."

It was a moment that revealed Kim Hye-sung's lack of experience, as he had never played center field in Korea and was practicing and playing in that position for the first time since joining the Dodgers. After the game, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said, "In that moment, Kim Hye-sung was too busy looking for the ball and failed to signal to the defenders beside him that he missed the ball. It was a mistake due to a lack of experience."

However, when Kim Hye-sung came up to bat again in the third inning, the broadcast team forgot the defensive mistake and praised his batting. Davis said, "Initially, it seemed like Kim Hye-sung would only play briefly until injured players recovered, but through impressive play in a short period, he changed the team’s roster composition," noting that he had reached base 9 times in his last 10 plate appearances. With Kim Hye-sung showing more competitive potential than expected, the Dodgers released veteran utility player Chris Taylor, who has a salary of $13 million this year.

Hershiser pointed out, "People didn't expect Kim Hye-sung to show this kind of power. Although he doesn’t hit home runs frequently, he has good contact skills, and recently, we can often see him hitting the ball hard. With bat speed and accuracy supporting him, he can drive the ball through defenses."

Davis analyzed, "Kim Hye-sung made meaningful changes to his swing during spring training and started the season in Triple-A. Being placed in the No. 9 spot has also helped. He followed the ball a lot, but since he is batting in front of (lead-off hitter) Shohei Ohtani, pitchers are throwing more strikes. That is working in Kim Hye-sung's favor."

As Kim Hye-sung stubbornly held off with three consecutive foul tips in a full count, Hershiser praised him, saying, "With his new swing and approach, Kim Hye-sung's tendency to chase pitches is decreasing. He is getting hits, and thanks to his improved ability to watch the ball and read the strike zone, he is having good at-bats. He is reading all these pitches well now."

In this at-bat, he made an out on a ground ball to shortstop, but the process of Kim Hye-sung making the Arizona starting pitcher Brandon Pfaadt throw 10 pitches while stubbornly battling was commendable. He finished the game going 0-for-4 with a ground ball to second base in the sixth, a strikeout in the eighth, and a ground ball to second base in the ninth, but his season batting average remains high at .400 (14 hits in 35 at-bats).

Once opponents analyze him, his batting numbers may drop, but if Kim Hye-sung's adaptability and responsiveness to the new hitting form continue, he is expected to produce batting capabilities beyond expectations.

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