Kim Hye-sung in Speed Could Stay in Triple-A All SeasonI asked for Park Chanho and Ryu Hyunjin's advice
Mar 13, 2025
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Kim Hye-sung will remain in Glendale Camelback Ranch, Arizona, until the opening of the Triple-A season, and will continue her preparation by playing in exhibition games in the minor leagues while training batting.
Kim Hye-sung did not get the right to reject the minor league option when he signed with the Dodgers. The 40-man roster in the Major League can be maintained, but if the club does not show the desired level of hitting, it can also spend a whole season in the minor leagues. The three-year guarantee of $12.5 million is 'money' for the Dodgers if their skills are not supported.
Dodger Blue, a local media outlet, said on the 13th (Korea time) 'Kim Hye-sung will benefit a lot if he takes the batter's box as the main player in Oklahoma City Comets, and there will certainly be opportunities to influence the Major League level within this season' Although he revealed many problems in the offensive sector in the exhibition game, the Dodgers were very encouraged by Kim Hye-sung's defensive ability to play as second baseman, shortstop, and center fielder'
Kim Hye-sung hit .207 (6 hits in 29 at-bats), one home run, three RBIs, six runs, four walks, 11 strikeouts, two steals, and an OPS of 0.613 in 15 spring training games. In March, he recovered with a batting average of 0.333 and an OPS of 0.945, but failed to make a dramatic turnaround. Above all, the strikeout rate reached 33.3%.
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Another media outlet, Dodgers Nation, said it was always rationalized for Kim Hye-sung to stay in Arizona without going to Japan. This is because the Cubs will have a series of left-handed starters in the opening two consecutive games. Imanaga is Shota and Justin Steele. However, the Dodgers have already decided not to include Kim Hye-sung in the opening roster of the U.S. mainland game in two weeks. Instead, he reported that the season will be held in the minor leagues.
The media outlet said it has always existed as an alternative for Kim Hye-sung to start the season in the minor leagues. Even when the Dodgers signed Kim Hye-sung, they knew that their offense should be supplemented. In particular, he also saw that it was not easy to adapt to the fast speed of Major League pitchers.
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Kim Hye-sung said in an interview with local media that `Lee Jung-hoo, Kim Ha-sung and Kim Ha-sung were colleagues in the KBO and are getting along very well with them. So I asked a lot of questions based on their experience in adapting to the Major League. I also asked Park Chan-ho and Ryu Hyun-jin for advice.
However, he started the season in the minor leagues. It is unknown when he will be notified of the big league's call. Last year, the San Diego Padres sent Ko Woo-suk, who signed a two-year, $4.5 million contract, down to the minor leagues and traded him to the Miami Marlins without ever calling him. Ko Woo-suk also stayed in Double A and Triple A in Miami before ending the season. It was because he couldn't regain more than 95 miles of fastball, and he was often struck.
If Kim Hye-sung does not show remarkable batting skills in Triple-A, big league opportunities will not come easily. His competitors Andy Farggs, James Outman, Quique Hernandez, Miguel Rojas and Chris Taylor are not easy players.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
