Could it be that joy comes after hardship? Local U.S. media has begun to pay attention to Kim Hye-seong, who is continuously excelling in the minor leagues.
Blake Harris, a reporter for the Los Angeles Dodgers at the U.S. sports channel ESPN, grants that he thinks Kim Hye-seong needs to spend a little more time in the minor leagues, but for now, he wants to see Kim Hye-seong on the big league roster more than Andy Pahes.
The Pahes mentioned by Harris is a Cuban outfielder who made his Major League debut last year and is struggling this season with a batting average of .111 (3 hits in 27 at-bats) with 2 runs and 12 strikeouts. He recently went four consecutive games without a hit, threatening to drop below a .100 batting average. He appears to be experiencing the so-called second-year jinx.
Harris noted, "Kim Hye-seong possesses at least speed and excellent defensive skills. Since Pahes is not contributing anything at the plate right now, it would be good to see how Kim Hye-seong contributes to the team when he gets the chance to bat."
The reason Kim Hye-seong is mentioned as a substitute for Pahes is that he has been on the rise recently in Triple-A of the minor leagues. Kim Hye-seong, who plays for the Oklahoma City Dodgers in Triple-A, has extended his hitting streak to four consecutive games, raising his season batting average to .296.
On the 5th, Kim Hye-seong recorded 2 hits in 4 at-bats, 1 run batted in, and 1 walk, and he hit doubles in 3 of the 4 games in April. Limited to April, his records show a batting average of .353, an on-base percentage of .421, and a slugging percentage of .529. Demonstrating versatility as a utility player, he has shown competitiveness by covering various positions including second base, shortstop, and center field.
Harris' comments garnered a warm response from Dodgers fans. Furthermore, most fans supported Kim Hye-seong's call-up, saying, "I 100% agree with this opinion," "Pahes hasn’t shown anything at the plate or in defense. In contrast, Kim Hye-seong has good speed and defense, and he can hit," and "It's time to move on from Pahes and bring up Kim Hye-seong." Conversely, one fan expressed, "If I were the manager, I would stick with the current lineup for a few more weeks."
Of course, just because one reporter advocated for Kim Hye-seong's call-up, it doesn't mean that Dave Roberts, the Dodgers manager, will immediately implement this in managing the roster. There are many players in Triple-A with skills on par with Kim Hye-seong. Nonetheless, Harris' assertion is encouraging because it indicates that local media has finally started to show interest in calling up minor leaguer Kim Hye-seong. If he maintains this momentum, the day when he steps into the major league lineup wearing a Dodgers uniform seems to be just around the corner.
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