Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Dodgers player Kim Hye-seong is gradually seeing fewer opportunities to play. Now, even when facing opposing right-handed starting pitchers, it is common for him to be excluded from the starting lineup. Has he lost the trust of manager Dave Roberts?

Kim Hye-seong started only one game in the six games the Dodgers recently played. The Dodgers faced right-handed starters four times in those six games. Nevertheless, Kim Hye-seong received a starting opportunity only once.

On the 24th against the New York Mets, the opposing starter was right-handed Griffin Canning. Kim Hye-seong was excluded from the starting lineup. He was brought in as a pinch runner for second base runner Max Muncy in the 11th inning of extra innings. He failed to score. In the top of the 13th inning, with no outs and a runner on second base while leading 6-5, Kim Hye-seong stepped to the plate and hit a single to left field, creating a first and third with no outs. Thanks to a sacrifice fly from the next batter, the team scored additional runs, making his hit a valuable bridge hit.

On the 25th against the Mets, the starting pitcher was left-handed David Peterson. Kim Hye-seong was excluded from the starting lineup and was brought in as a pinch runner for Miguel Rojas, who got on base with a walk in the 8th inning. After two outs, Kim Hye-seong successfully stole his fourth base of the season, but did not manage to score.

On the 26th against the Mets, Japanese right-handed pitcher Senga Kodai was the starting pitcher. Nevertheless, manager Roberts excluded Kim Hye-seong from the starting lineup, and he did not play in the later innings.

# Kim Hye-seong's recent playing log
On the 24th against the New York Mets (right-handed starter) / Pinch runner, 1 at-bat, 1 hit
On the 25th against the New York Mets (left-handed starter) / Pinch runner
On the 26th against the New York Mets (right-handed starter) / Did not play
On the 27th against Cleveland (right-handed starter) / 3 at-bats, 0 hits, 1 run, 1 error
On the 28th against Cleveland (right-handed starter) / Did not play
On the 29th against Cleveland (left-handed starter) / Did not play
On the 30th / Rest day
On the 31st against the New York Yankees (left-handed starter)

Kim Hye-seong played only one game in the three-game series against the Cleveland Guardians from the 28th to the 29th. On the 27th, against Cleveland, right-handed Gavin Williams was the starting pitcher, and Kim Hye-seong started as the second baseman batting ninth.

He recorded 0 hits in 3 at-bats. In the 2nd inning, with one out and runners on first and second base, he hit a ground ball to first base. In the 4th inning, with two outs and a runner on first base, he struck out. In the 6th inning, with one out and a runner on first base, he hit a ground ball to first base. On defense, he made an error in fielding a ground ball in the 4th inning and was replaced with a pinch hitter in the 8th inning. He did not have any appearances in the subsequent two games. Although he was scheduled to face a right-handed starter on the 28th, he did not play, and he also did not play against a left-handed starter on the 29th.

With inconsistent playing opportunities, Kim Hye-seong's batting average is also declining. In the six games he recently played, he had 1 hit in 10 at-bats, struggling with a slump. His season record shows a batting average of .366 (15 hits in 41 at-bats), 1 home run, 5 RBIs, 10 runs, 4 stolen bases, and an OPS of .858.

Kim Hye-seong seized his chance to remain in Major League Baseball after the release of veteran Chris Taylor. At that time, Kim Hye-seong was performing well, and manager Roberts said, "Kim Hye-seong will likely be in the starting lineup 3 to 4 times a week."

However, with Tommy Edman returning from the injured list, opportunities for playing second base have decreased, and because he has shown deficiencies in outfield defense, he has not been able to play as a center fielder. Right-handed Andy Pache was also frequently in the starting lineup against right-handed starters.

The Dodgers will face the New York Yankees at Dodger Stadium on the 31st. The Yankees' starting pitcher is left-handed Max Fried. It is likely that Kim Hye-seong will be excluded from the starting lineup. Fried has recorded 7 wins with no losses and an earned run average of 1.29 this season, ranking first in the American League for both wins and ERA.

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