Kim Hye-seong (Los Angeles Dodgers), who is competing for the Dodgers' second base job, made a strong impression on manager Dave Roberts from his first spring training game.
Kim Hye-seong started at second base and batted sixth in the Dodgers' first spring training game, played March 22 (Korean time) at Diablo Stadium in Tempe, Arizona, against the 2026 Major League Baseball Los Angeles Angels, and led the Dodgers to a 15-2 rout with a torrid performance of 2-for-3 with three RBIs and one run scored, including the game-winning hit.
Kim Hye-seong came to his first at-bat in the top of the first with two outs and the bases loaded in a 0-0 game. Earlier, Shohei Ohtani had reached on an infield hit, Teoscar Hernández had an RBI single to center, and Santiago Espinal had drawn a walk to load the bases.
Facing Angels right-hander José Soriano, the Angels' starter, Kim Hye-seong battled in an unfavorable 1-2 count and fought through to the eighth pitch. After three consecutive fouls from a 1-1 count, he worked two balls to even the count, then drove Soriano's eighth pitch, a 98.7 mph (159 km/h) four-seam fastball, into left field for a two-run, game-winning RBI single.
His second at-bat came in the top of the second with one out and runners on first and third, the Dodgers leading 6-0. Kim Hye-seong targeted the third pitch, a 92.4 mph (148 km/h) four-seam fastball from left-hander Mitch Pearce, on a 1-1 count, and drove it to center for an RBI single that fell in front of the center fielder. After advancing to second on a walk to the following batter, Kim scored when Zach Erhardt delivered a two-run double.
In the top of the third with one out and runners on first and third and the Dodgers up 10-2, Kim Hye-seong faced left-hander Sam Aldegheri. Down 0-2 in the count, he survived by fouling off consecutive pitches and taking a ball, but struck out swinging on a 91.6 mph (147 km/h) four-seam fastball that caught the outer high zone on the sixth pitch.
Kim Hye-seong finished his first spring training game on a high note, handing the baton to Ryan Fitzgerald in the bottom of the fifth with the Dodgers leading 10-2.
After the game, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts praised, "Kim Hye-seong showed really high-quality at-bats. Everyone knows how good he is defensively," adding, "He looked much calmer than last year. He's been working on improving his swing and showed an ability to handle low pitches well. This is no longer a new environment for him. His teammates like him a lot and are enjoying being with him. He really seems comfortable."
Kim Hye-seong's spring training performance drew attention even in neighboring Japan. Japanese media outlet Daily Sports evaluated, "Kim Hye-seong succeeded in appealing for the tentative starting second base job, which is undecided due to delayed returns from Tommy Edman, who had surgery on his right ankle, and Kiké Hernández, who had surgery on his left elbow."
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