Korea's Kim Hye-sung (26) showcased his power hitting in a game after returning from a four-game absence, but he still did not get the opportunity to face a left-handed pitcher.

Kim Hye-sung started as the eighth center fielder in a game against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, United States, on the 19th (Korean time) and recorded 1 hit and 1 run in 2 at-bats.

Having a KBO League career batting average of .304 over 953 games with 1,043 hits in 3,433 at-bats, 37 home runs, 386 RBIs, 591 runs scored, 211 stolen bases, and an OPS of .767, Kim Hye-sung challenged to enter Major League Baseball after the end of last season through the posting system and signed a maximum $22 million (approximately 30.3 billion won) contract with the Dodgers.

Kim Hye-sung had a batting average of .267 in 15 spring training games with 6 hits in 29 at-bats, 1 home run, 3 RBIs, 6 runs scored, and 2 stolen bases, recording an OPS of .613. Ultimately, he did not make the roster for the Tokyo Series and began the season at Triple-A in the minor leagues. After gaining a call-up to the Major League due to Tommy Edman's injury in May, Kim Hye-sung played in 31 games, achieving a batting average of .386 with 27 hits in 70 at-bats, 2 home runs, 11 RBIs, 14 runs scored, 6 stolen bases, and an OPS of .984, remaining on the roster without being demoted to the minor leagues after the call-up.

Kim Hye-sung, who has shown performance beyond expectations in the big leagues, displayed his power hitting in this game as well. In the bottom of the fifth inning, with 1 out and 1 runner on base while the Dodgers were trailing 0-1, Kim Hye-sung stepped up for his second at-bat and hit a 2-run double off the right-handed starter Coleck's 3rd pitch, clocking in at 92.2 mph (148.4 km/h). Following Kim Hye-sung’s double, Dalton Rushing came through with a 2-run double during a 1 out, 2nd and 3rd base opportunity, turning the game around, and Kim Hye-sung also scored.

However, his performance did not change Dodgers manager Dave Roberts' mind. Manager Roberts, who is thoroughly using Kim Hye-sung only against right-handed pitchers, substituted Enrique Hernandez for Kim Hye-sung as soon as a left-handed relief pitcher, Wandy Peralta, came up in the 7th inning with 1 out and runners on first and second base. Hernandez was caught out by a line drive to right field.

Up until this game, Kim Hye-sung has played in 31 games and had 75 plate appearances. However, he had faced left-handed pitchers only 4 times. The results were good. He recorded 3 hits, including 1 home run, and 3 RBIs in 4 at-bats, along with an additional double. Nevertheless, Manager Roberts has not given Kim Hye-sung the opportunity to face left-handed pitchers. This has led to Kim Hye-sung being excluded from the starting lineup for many games depending on the opposing starting pitcher, and he missed 3 consecutive games before this match.

In an interview before the game, Manager Roberts said, "Kim Hye-sung has shown excellent performance. He has a lot of experience at the plate in the KBO League, so he is adapting well to playing 2 to 3 times a week. For now, I want to continue giving opportunities to Conforto. However, Kim Hye-sung is delivering better results, and I plan to give him a certain level of opportunities as well," indicating that he would provide more chances to Kim Hye-sung. However, this statement did not seem to mean that he would give opportunities against left-handed pitchers. In this game, he showed a tendency to substitute as soon as a left-handed pitcher came in.

With Kim Hye-sung showing good performances even under a strict platoon system, fans have high expectations for how he will finish the remaining season.

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