Los Angeles Dodgers' Kim Hye-sung (26) has been named to the starting lineup after 4 games.

The Dodgers constructed the starting lineup for the game against the San Diego Padres on the 19th (Korea time) at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, with Shohei Ohtani (designated hitter), Mookie Betts (shortstop), Freddie Freeman (first baseman), Teoscar Hernández (first baseman), Max Muncy (third baseman), Andy Pajes (left fielder), Tommy Edman (second baseman), Kim Hye-sung (center fielder), and Dalton Rushing (catcher).

Kim Hye-sung recorded a batting average of .304 over 953 career games in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) league, with 1,043 hits in 3,433 at-bats, 37 home runs, 386 RBIs, 591 runs, 211 stolen bases, and an OPS of .767. Last winter, he signed a contract with the Dodgers for 3+2 years worth up to $22 million (approximately 30.3 billion won), making his entry into Major League Baseball.

Struggling in spring training with a batting average of .207 (6 hits in 29 at-bats), 1 home run, 3 RBIs, 6 runs, 2 stolen bases, and an OPS of .613 over 15 games, Kim Hye-sung failed to make the opening day roster. However, due to a vacancy from Tommy Edman's injury, he seized the opportunity for a big league call-up. In the hard-earned opportunity, he is showing a good performance with a batting average of .382 (26 hits in 68 at-bats), 2 home runs, 11 RBIs, 13 runs, 6 stolen bases, and an OPS of .969 over 30 games.

However, Kim Hye-sung has recently had few opportunities to play. He did not appear in 3 consecutive games after the game against San Francisco on the 15th. In particular, the disappointment was greater as he was excluded from the starting lineup in the game against San Diego on the 18th, despite facing right-handed pitcher Randy Vasquez.

Nevertheless, Kim Hye-sung was named to the starting lineup as the center fielder for the game against right-handed Steven Kolek, who was starting for San Diego. Although it is an unfamiliar position, if he can demonstrate that he can handle outfield defense stably, he is expected to have more opportunities to play in the future.

Kolek has a career record of 50 games in Major League Baseball (93 innings) with 6 wins and 2 losses, and an earned run average of 4.35. This season, he has recorded 3 wins and 2 losses in 8 games (46⅓ innings) with an earned run average of 3.50, which is respectable.

Meanwhile, the Dodgers' starting pitcher is Emmet Sheehan. Sheehan recorded 4 wins, 1 loss, 1 save, and an earned run average of 4.92 over 13 games (60⅓ innings) in 2023. He missed last season due to Tommy John surgery. Today's game marks his return from injury.

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