Finally, the 'Korean Derby' took place. Kim Hye-sung (26, Los Angeles Dodgers) was included in the starting lineup, resulting in a starting match-up against fellow Korean major leaguer Lee Jung-hoo (27, San Francisco Giants), who is a close friend and from the same Kiwoom Heroes team.
The Dodgers announced the starting lineup for the home game against San Francisco on 15th at 11:10 a.m. at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California.
The lineup included Shohei Ohtani (designated hitter), Mookie Betts (shortstop), Freddie Freeman (first baseman), Will Smith (catcher), Teoscar Hernández (right fielder), Max Muncy (third baseman), Andy Pajes (center fielder), Michael Conforto (left fielder), and Kim Hye-sung (second baseman). The starting pitcher was Clayton Kershaw.
Kim Hye-sung, who was excluded from the starting lineup the day before after recording 0 hits and 1 walk in 2 at-bats as a starter against the San Diego Padres on 12th, was included in the lineup today. He took the place of Korean-American Tommy Edman, who started as the second baseman the previous day.
This season, Kim Hye-sung has played 29 games, boasting a batting average of .391 (25 hits in 64 at-bats), with 2 home runs, 10 RBIs, 6 stolen bases, an on-base percentage of .435, a slugging percentage of .563, and an OPS of .997. Since being called up earlier last month, he has exceeded expectations with his hitting production, even remaining on the roster after injured players like Tommy Edman and Teoscar Hernández returned.
Under a thorough platoon system, opportunities for starting as a backup have been sparse, but he was included in the starting lineup today, facing off against Lee Jung-hoo. The two players met once as opposing teams in a spring training game on March 2nd. At that time, Lee Jung-hoo, batting third and playing center field, recorded 2 hits in 3 at-bats, including a double and 1 RBI, while Kim Hye-sung, batting eighth and playing shortstop, hit a home run with 1 hit in 2 at-bats, 1 RBI, and 1 walk.
San Francisco's lineup consisted of Lee Jung-hoo (center fielder), Willy Adames (shortstop), Elliott Ramos (left fielder), Wilmer Flores (designated hitter), Dominic Smith (first baseman), Casey Schmidt (third baseman), Heriberto Hernandez (right fielder), Tyler Fitzgerald (second baseman), and Andrew Knizner (catcher). The starting pitcher was Landon Leach.
Lee Jung-hoo is being treated as a full-time starting player. This season, he has played 68 games, with a batting average of .270 (70 hits in 259 at-bats), 6 home runs, 32 RBIs, an on-base percentage of .331, a slugging percentage of .436, and an OPS of .767. In the previous day's game (14th) against the Dodgers, he went 0 for 4 with 1 walk, ending a streak of 3 consecutive games with hits.
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