Kim Hye-seong (26) of the Los Angeles Dodgers smiled in the Korean Derby against his 'close friend' Lee Jung-hoo (27, San Francisco Giants). The Dodgers confirmed the effectiveness of Kim Hye-seong by winning 13 games and losing 7 in the 20 games he started, achieving a winning percentage of .650.

Kim Hye-seong started as the No. 9 batter and second baseman in the home game against San Francisco at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, on the 15th (Korea time), contributing to the Dodgers' 11-5 victory with 1 hit and 1 RBI in 4 at-bats.

Kim Hye-seong missed the game against San Francisco on the 14th, resulting in his first matchup with Lee Jung-hoo in the Major Leagues not taking place. However, on this day, he entered the starting lineup as the No. 9 batter and second baseman, creating the opportunity to face Lee Jung-hoo, who came out as the leadoff batter in center field.

Before the game, the Dodgers' dedicated broadcaster 'SportsNet LA' highlighted Kim Hye-seong's starting appearance, expressing expectations. Analyst Nomar Garciaparra, a six-time All-Star and two-time batting champion, noted, "Kim Hye-seong adds a different dimension to the game. When he gets on base, he becomes a threat as a runner, and pitchers need to pay more attention. His current batting average is also .391."

He continued, "Kim Hye-seong comes in the ninth spot but acts like a second leadoff. Following him are hitters like Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts. Pitchers may end up making mistakes in pitches to batters while worrying about Kim Hye-seong on base," adding, "His defense is stable no matter where he plays. I appreciate Kim Hye-seong's energy and talent. It's good to have him in the lineup."

Another analyst, Jerry Hairston Jr., remarked, "Kim Hye-seong brings a completely different element to the Dodgers' lineup. It also allows for better pitches to Ohtani. He can steal bases, and if he gets a long hit, he can score from first base. Having Kim Hye-seong in the lineup benefits the team as well. He's like the past Juan Pierre, a player who can be unpredictable at any moment," he praised. Pierre had a total of 1,994 games in 14 seasons with six teams, including the Dodgers, from 2000 to 2013, posting a batting average of .295 (2,217 hits in 7,525 at-bats) with 18 home runs and 614 stolen bases.

With the praise from former Major League players, Kim Hye-seong took advantage of his starting opportunity, contributing to the team's victory with 1 hit and 1 RBI in 4 at-bats. Breaking a two-game hitless streak, he marked a season batting average of .382 (26 hits in 68 at-bats). While Lee Jung-hoo went hitless in 4 at-bats with 1 walk, Kim Hye-seong became the winner of the first Korean Derby by contributing a timely hit, helping the team achieve an 11-5 victory.

From his first at-bat, Kim Hye-seong's bat was sharp. In the bottom of the second inning, with no outs and runners on second and third, he flew out to left field on a line drive, but the quality of the hit wasn't poor. Facing San Francisco's right-handed starter, Landoon Roof, he selected a ball on the first pitch and hit a low sinker at 92.8 mph (149.3 km/h) on the second pitch, but it went directly to the left fielder. It was a 45% hit probability but it was just unfortunate.

In the bottom of the third inning, with two outs and a runner on third, he delivered a timely hit. Against San Francisco's right-handed reliever Spencer Bivens, he hit a low cutter at 92.3 mph (148.5 km/h) on the fifth pitch of a 2-2 count. The ball landed in front of San Francisco's center fielder Lee Jung-hoo for an RBI single, extending the score to 7-0. This timely hit marked Kim Hye-seong's first hit in three games and brought his season total to 11 RBIs.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, with two outs and no runners on, he faced Bivens' fourth pitch, a high sinker at 93.4 mph (150.3 km/h), but flew out to left field. In the seventh inning, with no outs and a runner on first, he connected with a low four-seam fastball at 95.6 mph (153.9 km/h) on the second pitch from right-hander Tristan Beck, but it was caught as a line drive by the left fielder.

The Dodgers won 11-5, and Kim Hye-seong's performance in his 20 starts stands at 13 wins and 7 losses, giving him a winning percentage of .650. This is significantly better compared to the Dodgers' record of 7 wins and 12 losses (.368) in the 19 games Kim Hye-seong did not start since being called up on the 4th of last month. The statistics clearly show why Kim Hye-seong should be a starting player.

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