Kim Hye-seong of the LA Dodgers has seen his batting average drop below .100 in the exhibition games.

It has only been two weeks since Kim modified his batting form. He entered the spring training exhibition games less than a week after making the adjustments to his batting form. Kim, who is participating in the exhibition games while modifying his batting form, expressed his frustration, saying, "It’s not easy."

On the 27th (Korea time), the Major League exhibition game between the LA Dodgers and the Milwaukee Brewers was held at American Family Field in Phoenix, Arizona. Kim Hye-seong started as the seven-hole second baseman, recording no hits in three at-bats before being substituted in the fifth inning. Kim's batting average in the exhibition games has now dropped to .083 (1 hit in 12 at-bats).

In the third inning, Kim faced right-hander Carlos Rodriguez as the lead-off batter, targeting Rodriguez's first-pitch fastball at 93 miles per hour (149.7 km/h), but was out on a fly ball to right field.

With the score tied 3-3 in the fourth inning and one out with a runner on second, Kim faced Rodriguez again. The first pitch fastball (93 miles) was a strike, the second pitch curveball (86 miles) was a ball, and the third pitch (86 miles) was a foul. The fourth pitch fastball (93 miles) was a high ball. The fifth pitch curveball (76 miles) resulted in a foul down the first baseline. The sixth pitch curveball (86 miles) was hit into a ground ball out to the third baseman.

After one out in the fifth inning, Kim struck out swinging on a fastball (92 miles) thrown by right-hander Grand Anderson, with a count of 2 balls and 2 strikes. He was substituted after the fifth inning.

After the game, Kim Hye-seong was interviewed in the clubhouse. When asked how he feels about the modified batting form now, Kim responded, "It’s not easy. It’s not easy." He continued, "I feel like I’m improving little by little, but since the results aren’t coming, the human mind isn’t so easy." Although there are more balls making contact with the bat rather than swings and misses, the results of balls in play aren’t good.

There are many changes being made to the batting form. Kim said, "There are changes in the swing path, the lower body, and I’m making a lot of changes." Could making such numerous changes to the batting form at once be burdensome? Kim replied, "There’s no choice. I’m changing because it’s not good."

Despite the differences between KBO and MLB leagues, Kim Hye-seong has recorded a career batting average of .340 over eight seasons in the KBO. He had a batting average of over .300 for four consecutive years until last year, with the last two years recording .335 and .326.

Manager Roberts noted the differences between competition in Korea and here while comparing the pitching levels in KBO and MLB. Since signing with the Dodgers and entering spring training, he is making comprehensive adjustments to his batting form. Kim said, "It’s a major change after four years."

Could there be a way to slowly adjust the points of improvement? Kim said, "You could think that way, but there are no answers in baseball. Just slightly making changes doesn’t guarantee success, so it seems important to change all the visible issues and continue practicing until I make it my own."

When asked about the exact timing of modifying his batting form, Kim said that before entering the Dodgers camp, he briefly trained with former teammates at the Kiwoom Heroes camp in Arizona in mid-January. He then went to Los Angeles in early February to participate in a club event and entered the Dodgers camp early afterwards.

Kim said, "It’s been about two weeks so far. When I was training at the Kiwoom camp, I used my original form. I also just did my thing while training when I entered the Dodgers camp early, and I started to change things when the official camp began." The Dodgers gathered pitchers and catchers on the 12th. Since then, Kim has started modifying his batting form.

On the 26th, in response to a question about the possibility of Kim Hye-seong going to the minor leagues, Manager Roberts did not completely deny the possibility. He stated, "If there's one question mark regarding Kim Hye-seong, it’s his hitting. The competition here is different from Korea. He is adjusting his batting. We are working on slight swing changes to help him adapt more easily and sustain his performance. He is currently competing to secure a position." As a result, local reporters in the U.S. predicted a high likelihood that Kim would start the season in the minor leagues.

Kim Hye-seong said, "If the manager says so, there is nothing I can do. I can’t say, ‘Please put me on the roster’; I have to show it with my skills. If the manager finds it convincing and thinks I’m needed on the roster, he will include me; if not, he won’t. I think I need to wait patiently while working hard on what I have to do."

Manager Roberts has consistently praised Kim Hye-seong’s defense and his fast base-running. Crucially, he remarked, "Hitting is a question mark." Kim responded, "That’s true. With a batting average below .100 in the exhibition games, it’s quite lacking. I need to show more. Since there are still games left, I will do my best in the remaining games so that I can definitely make the roster."

[OSEN]