Kim Hye-seong (26) of the Los Angeles Dodgers is increasing his presence with a batting average of over .400 despite limited playing opportunities. He is receiving praise for his performance that exceeds expectations in both hitting and defense.

On the 9th (Korean time), Kim Hye-seong was selected to start as the No. 9 batter and center fielder in the away game against the St. Louis Cardinals in 2025 at Busch Stadium in Missouri, contributing to the Dodgers' 7-3 victory with his first Major League debut triple, 2 at-bats, 1 hit, and 2 runs batted in.

Following his 2 hits and 1 stolen base from 4 at-bats in the previous game against St. Louis on the 8th, Kim Hye-seong recorded hits in consecutive games, raising his season batting average from .411 to .414 (24 hits in 58 at-bats). His OPS also rose from .994 to 1.029.

From his first at-bat in the 2nd inning, Kim Hye-seong's bat was sharp. With one out and runners on first and third, he hit a line drive down the right field line on a high inside cutter at 89.3 mph (143.7 km/h) from St. Louis right-handed starter Michael McGreevy.

With a solid hit traveling at 98.8 mph (159.0 km/h), he brought home both the runner on third base, Will Smith, and the runner on first base, Edman, with a 2-run triple, widening the score to 3-0. Kim Hye-seong, sprinting at full speed, slid headfirst into third base for his first Major League triple.

The SportsNetLA broadcast team dedicated to Dodgers games was also impressed. When Kim Hye-seong stepped to the plate, broadcaster Stephen Nelson remarked, "Kim Hye-seong has exceeded most people's expectations," to which analyst Orel Hershiser agreed, saying, "His power, exit velocity, and home runs have really exceeded expectations."

After Kim Hye-seong hit the triple, Hershiser explained, "Kim Hye-seong was expected to be a ground ball or line drive hitter. I didn't expect him to show gap power or hit home runs, but he accurately hit the inside pitch. He sent the high cutter into fair territory without it becoming a foul ball."

In his second at-bat in the 4th inning, he struck out swinging. After a 5-pitch battle with McGreevy, he swung and missed a high outside four-seam fastball at 92.5 mph (148.9 km/h).

However, the echoes of his triple in the 2nd inning lingered as compliments continued. Hershiser noted, "When Kim Hye-seong came here, he probably faced culture shock initially, and there must have been concerns about whether he could play on this team. During spring training, he was even told to change his swing. He performed well in Triple-A and got the call-up. Despite moving around positions, he is hitting .400," praising him.

Nelson added, "It's not like he has consistent playing opportunities. Maintaining a prepared state is not easy." When Kim Hye-seong struck out with one out and a runner on second, Hershiser remarked, "That's a rare sight. He was 8 for 13 in scoring opportunities," adding, "Even though he struck out now, he is still contributing to the team at a high level."

Kim Hye-seong's presence was also noticeable in center field defense. He quickly chased down a long fly ball hit by St. Louis's Mason Wynn to the left-center warning track in the bottom of the 3rd inning. After catching the ball from a hit at 97.2 mph (156.4 km/h), he momentarily stumbled upon colliding with the fence, but it was not an injury.

In a great defensive play that prevented the long hit, pitcher Clayton Kershaw raised his right arm to express his gratitude. Nelson praised, "Kim Hye-seong reached out to catch the ball near the fence. That was a truly fantastic catch. He showcased Hye-seong-like defense in center field."

Even though Kim Hye-seong made significant contributions in both offense and defense, he was substituted for a pinch hitter after just two at-bats. When St. Louis left-handed reliever John King came in during the top of the 7th, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts replaced left-handed hitter Kim Hye-seong with right-handed hitter Kiké Hernández. Although Kim has a batting average over .400 this year, he has only faced left-handed pitchers in two at-bats. It's disappointing that he is not getting opportunities against left-handed pitchers in such a rigorous platoon system.

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