The challenge of Kim Hye-seong (26) from the Los Angeles Dodgers is unwavering. He is determined to overcome and prevail through the current chaotic period.

It is no exaggeration to say that Kim Hye-seong is currently standing on the edge of a cliff. In a spring training game against the Los Angeles Angels held on the 1st (Korean time) at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona, he substituted in during the 6th inning but recorded 2 strikeouts and 0 hits in 2 at-bats. His spring training batting average is .071 (1 hit in 17 at-bats), and he has dropped to 7 strikeouts. There have been no well-hit balls.

Director General Brandon Gomez and manager Dave Roberts both emphasize that Kim Hye-seong needs to improve his batting. Naturally, he was expected to be the starting second baseman for the opening game, but now he finds himself in a position where he must compete for the last spot on the roster. Gomez noted, “There are still many variables left until the opening game. We need to see how the roster will be constructed, and what kind of performance Kim Hye-seong will show. However, his energy, defensive skills, and diligence are truly impressive.”

Aside from Kim Hye-seong's hardships, he is blending in well with the Dodgers. North American sports media, The Athletic, reported, “Kim Hye-seong is relatively well-adjusted. Thanks to his bright and friendly personality, he quickly gets along with his teammates and sends individual messages to team members to boost team morale at the end of each day. Even his hair growth has become an interesting talking point among his teammates.”

It was mentioned that “he adapted quickly in defense. Scouts evaluate that Kim Hye-seong's defensive skills have been naturally transplanted even in an environment different from the defensive shifts and positioning he was accustomed to in the Kiwoom Heroes during the KBO league. The problem lies with his batting.” It was explained that “the reason for trading former second baseman Gavin Lux was that they believed Kim Hye-seong would be able to adequately handle breaking balls and fast pitches at the major league level. However, the performance so far has been disappointing.”

Before the spring training games, the Dodgers began a complete overhaul of Kim Hye-seong's batting form. Under the guidance of the team, Kim changed his batting mechanism to adapt smoothly to the major league, which currently seems to be detrimental to him. The media explained, “The Dodgers are fully revamping his swing to maintain his contact ability while increasing his power. His career slugging percentage was only .430 during his time with the Kiwoom Heroes, but the Dodgers believe he has the potential to produce more power than during his KBO league days.” They reported that they are currently focused on modifying his bat trajectory and keeping the bat in the hitting zone for as long as possible to create stable contact.

Kim Hye-seong stated that he is currently in a “20 to 30 percent completed state.” However, he does not want to make excuses, such as changes to his batting form. In an interview with The Athletic, he revealed, “Regardless of which team I chose, it would not have been easy. But I thought that in order to overcome difficulties, I needed to challenge myself at the highest level. There is no easy path. That's why I chose the Dodgers.”

The Dodgers are the defending champions, and they have enough resources to replace Kim Hye-seong. Had it not been for the Dodgers, Kim Hye-seong's chance to remain and survive in the major leagues could have flowed more smoothly. Nevertheless, Kim Hye-seong's determination to challenge remains firm. The Athletic explained, “Kim Hye-seong received offers from other teams besides the Dodgers. The contract offered by the Los Angeles Angels included a minor league opt-out clause. However, the Dodgers did not grant any privileges to Kim Hye-seong in the contract.” Despite the possibility of starting the season in the minor leagues, Kim Hye-seong's determination to challenge does not waver.

“Playing baseball in an unfamiliar environment is not easy. Baseball itself is a difficult sport. But if I adapt and grow until the end, the sense of achievement will be unmatched,” he emphasized. The media also stated, “The Dodgers believe that Kim Hye-seong has already established proven skills in defense and that he can sufficiently grow through the adjustment process in batting.”

This is why Kim Hye-seong's challenge should not be underestimated. Superstar shortstop Mookie Betts, while undergoing intense training with the Dodgers, stated, “I want to make sure that Kim Hye-seong feels that he has become a part of the Dodgers. There is no better way to instill real-game-like pressure here. That's why we are having him experience it this way. We believe in Kim Hye-seong,” expressing support that he will quickly adapt. Teammates are also actively supporting and cheering for Kim Hye-seong's challenge.

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