Kim Hye-sung (26), from the Los Angeles Dodgers, concluded his final exhibition game with no hits before the opening game in Tokyo, Japan.

On the 12th (Korea time), Kim Hye-sung recorded no hits with 2 at-bats after being substituted in as a second baseman in the 4th inning during the exhibition game against the Cleveland Guardians at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona, for the 2025 Major League Baseball season.

After two consecutive games without a hit, Kim Hye-sung's exhibition batting average dropped from .222 to .270 (6 hits in 29 at-bats). He has been excluded from the starting lineup in 7 of the last 8 games, putting him at a disadvantage in the competition for a starting position, and he is now uncertain about his Tokyo trip for the opening in Japan.

Following this game, the Dodgers will send a total of 31 players, including the 26 on the opening roster and 5 members of the 'taxi squad,' to Japan. Kim Hye-sung has not yet been informed about his trip to Tokyo and is being considered for starting the season in the minor leagues while staying in Arizona.

Kim Hye-sung, who was also excluded from the starting lineup that day, was substituted in as a second baseman in the 4th inning. In his first at-bat during the bottom of the 5th inning, with 2 outs and a runner on third base, he faced left-handed pitcher Ryan Weber and made contact with a slider thrown at 87.2 mph (140.3 km/h) on the fifth pitch, but he grounded out to second base.

Switching to centerfield starting in the 6th inning, Kim Hye-sung caught a fly ball off the bat of Dom Nuñez in the same inning.

In the 8th inning, during his second at-bat as a lead-off hitter, he struck out. He swung and missed three times against left-handed pitcher Andrew Misiaszek's slider, missing on the second pitch outside and the fourth pitch inside. After a 2B-2S count, he finally struck out swinging on the fifth pitch, a low slider at 86 mph (138.4 km/h).

Meanwhile, the Dodgers won the game 10-4, overpowering their opponents with a big inning in the bottom of the 1st, where they scored 6 runs, including a three-run homer by Tommy Edman. Shohei Ohtani, who batted as the designated hitter, recorded no hits in 1 at-bat but had 1 RBI and 2 walks.

Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki, who started for the Dodgers, delivered a strong performance with 4 innings pitched, allowing 1 hit, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts, and no earned runs. Sasaki breezed through the first inning with just 10 pitches, allowing his first hit to lead-off batter Gabriel Arias in the second inning but striking out Will Brennan with a splitter and retiring the next 3 batters.

In the third inning, he only allowed one walk and continued his impressive outing by striking out Tyler Freeman looking with a low splitter. Sasaki ended the inning by inducing a double play with a ground ball to first base from Brennan, finishing with an efficient total of 41 pitches. He threw 27 four-seam fastballs with a top speed of 97.4 mph (156.8 km/h), an average of 96.3 mph (155.0 km/h), along with 11 splitters and 3 sliders.

Following his first appearance on the 5th against the Cincinnati Reds, where he pitched 3 scoreless innings allowing 2 hits, 1 hit by pitch, and 1 walk, he ended the exhibition season perfectly with 2 scoreless games totaling 7 innings. Sasaki is likely to start in the second game of the opening series against the Chicago Cubs on the 19th at Tokyo Dome.

[OSEN]