Los Angeles Dodgers' Kim Hye-sung (26) has not had a single at-bat in four games.
The Dodgers won 5-4 against the Kansas City Royals at Kaufmann Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, on the 28th (Korea time), extending their winning streak to five games.
Despite the pleasant news of their five-game winning streak, Kim Hye-sung cannot help but feel disappointed. This is because he has not had a chance at the plate in the last four games.
Kim Hye-sung has played 953 games in the KBO League, with a batting average of .304 (1,043 hits in 3,433 at-bats), 37 home runs, 386 RBIs, 591 runs scored, and 211 stolen bases, showcasing his role as a leading infielder in the league. After the end of last season, he sought to enter Major League Baseball through the posting system and signed a contract with the Dodgers for 3+2 years with a maximum value of $22 million (approximately 30 billion won).
Kim Hye-sung, who recorded a poor performance with a batting average of .267 (6 hits in 29 at-bats), 1 home run, 3 RBIs, 6 runs scored, and 2 stolen bases in 15 spring training games, did not make the roster for the Tokyo series and started the season in Triple-A minor league. However, he got a chance for a Major League call-up thanks to an injury to Tommy Edman in May.
Having entered the big leagues, Kim Hye-sung has immediately delivered impressive performances, defying all expectations, and remains on the Major League roster. His season stats include 35 games (29 hits in 78 at-bats), 2 home runs, 12 RBIs, 15 runs scored, and 6 stolen bases, with an OPS of .948. Among rookie players with over 50 at-bats, he is ranking first in both batting average and OPS.
However, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has not been giving Kim Hye-sung many opportunities at the plate. He has been used strictly in a right-handed pitcher platoon, limiting his plate appearances. Kim Hye-sung has only faced left-handed pitchers in 4 at-bats.
In particular, he has not had any at-bats in the last four games. Kim Hye-sung recorded 1 hit and 1 run scored in 4 at-bats against Washington on the 23rd, and since then, he has not returned for a single at-bat in four games. He has missed three games, including this day's game, and has only appeared as a late defensive substitution in the 9th inning against Colorado on the 26th.
On this day, the starting pitcher was left-hander Noah Cameron. As a result, Kim Hye-sung could not be in the starting lineup. However, even though right-handed starters pitched on the 25th and 26th against Colorado, Kim Hye-sung still did not get any playing opportunities.
The Dodgers will play an away game against Kansas City on the 29th. The Dodgers are expected to start Shohei Ohtani, while Kansas City will start Seth Lugo. As Lugo is a right-handed pitcher, Kim Hye-sung might finally get a chance to start after not having had an at-bat for four games. It remains to be seen whether he will receive this opportunity.
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