Kim Hye-seong (Los Angeles Dodgers), who is set to join South Korea's roster for the 5th World Baseball Classic (WBC), recorded his first multi-hit in the spring training games and helped the team extend its winning streak to five.
Kim Hye-seong started in center field as the leadoff hitter in the away game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on the 26th (Korean time) at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in Scottsdale, Arizona, and went 2-for-3 with an RBI, a run scored and two stolen bases.
Kim Hye-seong reached on a sharp hit in his first plate appearance in the 1st inning and immediately showcased his speed with a successful steal of second base. In the 2nd inning with two outs and a runner on third, he struck out on a checked swing, but he showed his clutch instincts in the 5th inning.
With no outs and runners on first and second, down 2-3, he delivered a game-tying RBI single to even the score. He then stole second and later scored on a subsequent play. With that, Kim Hye-seong extended his hitting streak to three games and raised his batting average to .500 (5 hits in 10 at-bats).
He also made his presence felt on defense. In the 1st inning with no outs and runners on first and second, he caught a nearly hit off the bat of Pavin Smith to end the threat, and in the 4th inning with two outs and a runner on second he made a great play to corral a hard-hit ball by Geraldo Perdomo just in front of the fence. Kim Hye-seong was replaced before the bottom of the 5th and completed his duties for the day.
Japanese media also highlighted his performance. Sports Hochi reported, "Kim Hye-seong, in his second year in the major leagues, is swinging a hot bat in this spring training with 5 hits in 10 at-bats, a .500 average and four RBIs." It added, "Kim Hye-seong is expected to play in the Chicago White Sox game on the 27th and then travel to Japan to join the South Korean national team."
According to the report, Kim Hye-seong said his favorite Japanese dish is abura soba among Japanese foods. He laughed and said, "I won't go straight to Tokyo, so I can't eat it immediately, but I heard the national team's lodging meals are a Japanese-style buffet. So I'm really looking forward to it."
He said he likes yakiniku and tonkatsu and added, "Ah, there's one more," showing a photo of a steak rice bowl on his smartphone. He said in Japanese, "I really like meat," making the local reporters laugh.
Yamamoto Yoshinobu, a Dodgers teammate and close friend, is scheduled to start for Japan on March 6 against Taiwan, so it is unlikely they will face each other directly in the WBC. However, Kim Hye-seong said, "Yamamoto is one of the best pitchers. I want to avoid giving pitchers favorable counts. If I face a teammate, it would be really fun."
He continued, "All the pitchers on the Japan national team are excellent. But I think Yoshinobu is the 'best of the best,'" expressing his respect for his close friend.
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