Why did Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts substitute Kim Hye-seong, who hit the tying hit against a left-handed pitcher, when another left-handed pitcher came in?

On the 10th (Korean time), Kim Hye-seong started as the 9th center fielder in the away game against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park in San Diego, California, recording 1 hit and 1 RBI in 3 at-bats before being replaced by a pinch hitter.

Kim Hye-seong, who struck out swinging in the 2nd inning and went down on a Samjin in the 3rd inning, hit a tying double with 1 RBI in a scoring opportunity with 2 outs and 2 runners on base in the 5th inning, trailing 5-6. After swinging and missing on the first pitch against Japanese left-hander Matsui Yuki, he pulled the second pitch, an 88.9-mile-per-hour (143 km) slider, deep into the right-field area. It was a moment of triumph against Roberts' seemingly arbitrary platoon use.

However, despite his golden tying hit, Kim Hye-seong failed to play full time. In the 8th inning, with the score tied at 6-6 and 1 out, after San Diego changed pitchers to left-hander Adrian Morejon, Roberts chose to substitute Kim Hye-seong for pinch hitter Kiké Hernández. Hernández struck out swinging, making Kim Hye-seong's substitution feel even more regrettable.

Both domestic and Japanese media outlet Sankei Sports also raised questions about Roberts' managerial decisions after the game. The outlet noted, "Even though Kim Hye-seong hit the tying hit against Matsui Yuki today, recording 3 hits and 3 RBIs in 3 at-bats against left-handed pitchers, Roberts substituted him for a pinch hitter when another left-handed pitcher came in."

Why did they substitute Kim Hye-seong, who had already hit a single against a left-handed pitcher, when another left-handed pitcher came out? Roberts explained, "Kim Hye-seong had a good matchup against Matsui earlier. The fastball speed was not too fast, and the timing of the swing matched well. However, Morejon is a pitcher who throws faster pitches, so I thought it would be a tough at-bat for Kim Hye-seong."

He added, "I wanted to give Kiké Hernández a chance as well. He needs to become stronger against left-handers, and he recognizes that. This is the reason I put Kiké in for Kim Hye-seong."

In the end, the Dodgers defeated San Diego 8-7 after a thrilling extra inning match, marking their second consecutive win following a series opener. Kim Hye-seong's tying hit played a crucial role in the extra-inning victory, but it seems that manager Roberts' trust in Kim Hye-seong is still not strong.

[OSEN]