Los Angeles Dodgers' Kim Hye-seong (27) is gradually increasing his chances of surviving in the major leagues.
Kim Hye-seong started at shortstop batting eighth in the game against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado, on the 20th (Korean time) and went 2-for-4 with one run.
In his first at-bat with one out in the top of the third inning, Kim Hye-seong swung at Colorado right-hander Michael Lorenzen's third pitch, a 93.2-mph (150.0km) four-seam fastball, and ripped his second double of the season. Alex Freeland followed with an RBI single, and Kim Hye-seong scored as the Dodgers took the first lead.
Kim Hye-seong added another hit in his final at-bat with two out and a runner on first in the eighth inning while the Dodgers trailed 4-6, driving Jimmy Herget's third pitch, an 87.2-mph (140.3km) slider, for a hit. However, the chance with two out and runners on second and third that followed a wild pitch did not result in a run when Freeland was caught on a fly to center. The Dodgers lost 6-9 and fell into their first losing streak of the season.
Last season, Kim Hye-seong signed a 3+2-year deal with the Dodgers worth up to $22 million (about 32.4 billion won). He struggled in spring training in his first year with the club and began the season at Triple-A in the minor leagues. But he was called up to the majors in May and finished his debut season in 71 games with a .280 batting average (161 at-bats, 45 hits), three home runs, 17 RBIs, 19 runs, 13 stolen bases and an OPS of .699.
After finishing the WBC (World Baseball Classic) in March and returning to the team, expectations were high that Kim Hye-seong would make the opening roster, but he started the season in the minors after being passed by newly acquired Santiago Espinal and infield prospect Alex Freeland. Waiting for an opportunity after hitting .346 in six Triple-A games (26 at-bats, nine hits) with two RBIs, 11 runs and an OPS of .823, Kim Hye-seong was called up to the majors when starting shortstop Mookie Betts suffered a back injury.
Back in the big leagues, Kim Hye-seong has played well, increasing the likelihood that he will remain in the majors even after injured players such as Betts, Tommy Edman and Enrique Hernández return. His season stats are .308 in 11 games (26 at-bats, eight hits) with one home run, three RBIs, five runs, three stolen bases and an OPS of .906.
Kim Hye-seong has changed not only at the plate but also in the field. Last season, he even played center field as he challenged himself as a utility player, and outside his primary position at second base he showed many defensive shortcomings. This year, however, he has shown outstanding defense at shortstop as well, leaving a strong impression.
Aiming to stay in the big leagues, Kim Hye-seong said in an interview after hitting his first home run of the season on the 16th, "Of course, I want to play. I want to play on the major league stage. I want to keep playing, and I think I have to show that desire through my actions and my ability," expressing his desire to continue playing in the major leagues.
U.S. outlet DodgerNation praised Kim Hye-seong, saying, "Called up from Triple-A, Kim Hye-seong got an opportunity because of Mookie Betts' injury and has played well for the Dodgers. The most important point is that his plate work has noticeably improved compared with his rookie season, and he is playing excellent defense at shortstop. His versatility across multiple positions is valued within the team. His speed also adds an important element to the team."
According to the official major league outlet MLB.com, Betts is expected to return in late April, and Edman and Hernández are expected to return in late May. Kim Hye-seong's primary goal is to survive the majors with Betts' return first and ultimately with the returns of Edman and Hernández. Fans are watching to see whether Kim Hye-seong, who has shown growth entering his second season, can continue his strong play for the remainder of the season.
[OSEN]