Los Angeles Dodgers' Kim Hye-sung (26) may really not be able to go to Tokyo. There are only two exhibition games left before heading to Japan, and a trip to Tokyo has not been confirmed. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts noted, "Discussions are still ongoing." The Dodgers are continuing to deliberate over Kim Hye-sung to the extent that there are concerns of him heading to the minor leagues.

Kim Hye-sung played as a defensive replacement at shortstop in the 6th inning against the Oakland Athletics in an exhibition game held on the 10th (Korean time) at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona, recording 1 hit, 2 RBIs, and 1 walk.

Excluded from the starting lineup in 5 of the last 6 games, including 2 consecutive games, Kim Hye-sung is now in a situation where he must show his batting skills with limited opportunities. Despite the difficult situation, Kim Hye-sung demonstrated concentration at the plate in both of his at-bats that day.

In the bottom of the 7th inning with 2 outs and the bases loaded, Kim Hye-sung faced right-handed pitcher Mitchell Ohtanez of the Athletics in a full count battle that went to 7 pitches, eventually hitting a 2-RBI single up the middle. After creating fouls on pitches 4 and 5 at a disadvantage of a 1 ball-2 strikes count, Kim Hye-sung selected a slider on the 6th pitch and connected on a 97.1 mph (156.3 km/h) four-seam fastball that came in high on the 7th pitch. Although the contact was slightly off, Kim Hye-sung's swing matched the pitch's velocity.

In his last at-bat in the bottom of the 9th inning with 2 outs and a runner on first base, Kim Hye-sung also created a full count by selecting 2 foul balls and 1 ball against Taiwanese right-hander Chuang Chien-Chung. Subsequently, the 7th pitch resulted in a high sinker, allowing Kim Hye-sung to walk. He showed a certain presence by reaching base in both at-bats.

However, the situation surrounding Kim Hye-sung does not look very promising. According to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, after the game, Manager Roberts praised Kim Hye-sung's batting but noted that discussions about whether he will travel to Tokyo with the team for the season opener are still ongoing. A total of 31 players, including 26 main roster players and 5 alternates, will head to Tokyo.

Manager Roberts directly informed pitcher Matt Sauer, who joined spring training as an invited player and participated in exhibition games, about going to Tokyo while substituting pitchers in the game against the Seattle Mariners on the 8th. While it appears that a significant number of members have been decided, the decision regarding Kim Hye-sung and other players competing for the last position in the lineup seems uncertain.

As of that day, Kim Hye-sung's exhibition game statistics include a batting average of .192 (5 hits in 26 at-bats), 1 home run, 3 RBIs, 4 runs, 4 walks, 10 strikeouts, 1 stolen base, an on-base percentage of .300, a slugging percentage of .308, and an OPS of .608. His "competitors" James Outman (batting average of .192, 1 home run, OPS of .713) and Andy Pahes (batting average of .217, 1 home run, OPS of .656) also had poor performances, but Kim Hye-sung's record is the lowest.

The reason the Dodgers are troubled is not just due to performance. Ardaya reported, "The Dodgers are deliberating whether to have Kim Hye-sung start in the minor leagues or stay in Arizona to work on his swing adjustments."

Kim Hye-sung, who has completely overhauled his batting form since joining the Dodgers, needs more time to adapt. Rather than starting the season in the Major Leagues in a half-baked state, he is also considering the option of solidifying his form and swing before elevating himself. It might be more efficient for Kim Hye-sung to remain in Arizona and continue his swing adjustments rather than consuming a week's time with long-distance travel for the Tokyo opening series.

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