Kim Hye-seong (Los Angeles Dodgers) did not participate in the second exhibition game of the 2025 Major League Baseball season.
On the 22nd (Korean time), Kim Hye-seong did not participate in the away exhibition game against the Chicago Cubs held at Sloan Park in Mesa, Arizona, USA.
On that day, the Dodgers started Mookie Betts (shortstop), Tommy Edman (second baseman), Michael Conforto (left fielder), Austin Barnes (catcher), Kiké Hernández (first baseman), Miguel Rojas (third baseman), and Chris Taylor (designated hitter), and Andy Páez (center fielder) in the lineup.
The lineup for the opening game of the exhibition held at the Dodgers camp on the 21st saw all players change except for Betts, who played as a right fielder and second baseman last year and is switching to shortstop this year. He demonstrated passion by playing in both the opening game and the away game, and recorded 2 hits in 3 at-bats.
During away games in exhibition matches, players train early in the morning at the camp and then take a bus to the away venue.
The distance from the Dodgers spring camp at Camelback Ranch in Glendale to the Cubs spring camp at Sloan Park is 31 miles (50 km). It is quite a distance, being the second farthest away camp after the Athletics camp, which is 33 miles (53 km) away.
For rookies like Kim Hye-seong, who are participating in the Major League spring camp for the first time, playing in two consecutive away games makes it challenging to manage their condition. Typically, veteran players do not even accompany the team to away games, opting to stay back at camp to practice before leaving early.
Kim Hye-seong will rest for the away exhibition game against the Cubs and is scheduled to participate in the home exhibition game against the Kansas City Royals on the 23rd. The Dodgers coaching staff has made some considerations in this regard.
In the exhibition game against the Cubs on the 22nd, many of Kim Hye-seong's competitors for the opening roster started. Edman, competing for the main position at second base, played as the second baseman, and Taylor played as the designated hitter. Edman recorded 1 hit in 3 at-bats and was replaced in the bottom of the 5th inning. Taylor recorded 2 hits in 3 at-bats with 1 strikeout.
Another infield utility player, Rojas, started as the third baseman and recorded 2 hits in 3 at-bats. Utility player Kiké Hernández played as the first baseman but remained hitless with 2 at-bats.
Dodgers starting pitcher Tony Gonsolin recorded 2 strikeouts and no runs in 1 inning. The Dodgers lost 3-7, suffering a two-game losing streak following the previous day.
In the opening exhibition game against the Cubs held on the 21st, Kim Hye-seong started as the eighth second baseman and recorded no hits in 1 at-bat with 1 walk after 2 plate appearances, and was replaced during defensive play in the top of the 5th.