LA Dodgers' Kim Hye-sung (26) is being used in a solid platoon despite his good performance.

On the 9th (Korean time), Kim Hye-sung appeared as a starting center fielder batting ninth in the away game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri, where he recorded 1 hit and 2 RBIs in 2 at-bats.

With the Dodgers leading 1-0 in the top of the second inning, Kim Hye-sung came to the plate with 1 out and runners on 1st and 3rd. He hit a two-RBI triple that dropped down the right field line off St. Louis right-handed starting pitcher Michael McGreevy's 3rd pitch, which was a cutter at 89.3 mph. The ball had a velocity of 98.8 mph. Kim Hye-sung's triple helped the Dodgers take an early 3-0 lead, and they solidified their advantage later in the game, winning 7-3.

However, Kim Hye-sung managed only 2 at-bats in the game. In the 7th inning, when it was his turn to bat again as the lead-off hitter, he was substituted for right-handed batter Enrique Hernandez when McGreevy was replaced by left-handed relief pitcher John King. Hernandez grounded out to the first baseman.

Kim Hye-sung, who has a career batting average of .304 in 953 games in the KBO League (3,433 at-bats, 1,043 hits), with 37 home runs, 386 RBIs, 591 runs, and 211 stolen bases, successfully made his Major League debut after signing a 3+2 year contract worth up to $22 million (about 29.8 billion won) with the Dodgers through the posting system at the end of last season.

After joining the Dodgers, Kim Hye-sung adjusted his batting form to hit the ball harder. As a result, he struggled in the spring training with a batting average of .267 (6 hits in 29 at-bats), 1 home run, 3 RBIs, 6 runs, and 2 stolen bases in 15 games, leading to his exclusion from the Tokyo Series roster and starting the U.S. season in the Minor League Triple-A.

In Triple-A, Kim Hye-sung recorded a batting average of .252 (29 hits in 115 at-bats), with 5 home runs, 19 RBIs, 22 runs, and 13 stolen bases, with an OPS of .798. Meanwhile, he seized the opportunity for a Major League call-up due to Tommy Edman’s injury, and his performance began at that point. On May 4th, he made his big league debut against Atlanta, appearing as a defensive replacement. On May 5th against Atlanta, he entered as a pinch runner and immediately succeeded in stealing a base, leaving a strong impression, and on May 6th against Miami, he recorded 2 hits in 4 at-bats, 1 RBI, 1 run, and 1 stolen base, definitely making a mark.

At the time Kim Hye-sung was called up, it was widely expected he would go back to the Minor League after Edman's return. However, Kim Hye-sung successfully created his own opportunity with his performance. In 26 games, he has a batting average of .414 (24 hits in 58 at-bats), 2 home runs, 9 RBIs, 13 runs, and 6 stolen bases with an OPS of 1.029, continuing to remain in the Major League roster.

One disappointing aspect, however, is that Kim Hye-sung has had almost no chance to face left-handed pitchers. He has faced right-handed pitchers in 59 at-bats, but only 2 at-bats against left-handed pitchers. He did not show weakness against left-handed pitchers. He got hits in both at-bats, one of which was a home run off left-handed pitcher Brent Hedrick. In the KBO League, his career batting average against left-handed pitchers (.306) is higher than that against right-handed pitchers (.296). His OPS against right-handed (.758) and left-handed (.742) pitchers also show little difference.

Kim Hye-sung has successfully overturned negative evaluations in the early part of the season and survived in the Major League. Now, will he be able to rise to a solid starting position, breaking out of the platoon?

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