With Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts injured, Kim Hye-sung is on the verge of joining the roster.
The Dodgers defeated the Washington Nationals 10-5 on the road at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., on the 5th (Korean time) in a 2026 Major League Baseball game. The bats of core hitters Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman and Kyle Tucker were hot.
Mookie Betts, who started at shortstop batting third, had recently been regaining his hitting touch, but he was replaced after appearing only in the top of the first inning. Betts drew a walk and was replaced by Miguel Rojas when the team took the field in the bottom of the first. The Dodgers organization said, "He was replaced due to back pain."
That opened an opportunity for Kim Hye-sung. Kim Hye-sung, who had been playing for the Dodgers' Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers, was preparing for that day's game against the Las Vegas Aviators (an affiliate of the Oakland Athletics). However, he was omitted from the starting lineup.
DodgersNation, a media outlet covering Dodgers news, reported, "With Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts injured, Kim Hye-sung is on the verge of joining the roster."
The outlet added, "According to manager Dave Roberts, Betts is expected to miss at least the final game of this series, and he is scheduled to undergo an MRI exam for a back injury."
The length of Betts' absence could be prolonged or shortened depending on the MRI results and his physical condition. Therefore, the Dodgers are likely to call up Kim Hye-sung in case they decide to move Betts to the injured list (IL).
The outlet said, "According to minor league broadcasts, he was suddenly removed from the lineup before today's game and traveled to Washington. Kim Hye-sung had originally been included in the starting lineup, but he was taken off the roster just before the game started."
Minor league broadcasters reported, "Kim Hye-sung is scheduled to fly to Washington tonight." They added, "The Dodgers will face the Washington Nationals in a day game tomorrow."
[OSEN]