Shocking KBO's 30% hitters! Kim Hye-sung was demoted to Triple-A, and ML pitchers realized the wallNeed to adjust from minor to LAD

Mar 12, 2025

LA Dodgers Kim Hye-sung enters the field to play an exhibition game against the Cleveland Guardians at Camelback Ranch on the 12th (Korea time). Kim Hye-sung, who had no hits in two times at bat on the day, eventually failed to get on the plane to Tokyo. AFP Yonhap News

LA Dodgers Kim Hye-sung was eventually excluded from the list of passengers on a flight to Tokyo. He couldn't avoid going to the minor leagues.

After an exhibition game against the Cleveland Guardians at Glendale Camelback Ranch in Arizona on the 12th (Korea time), the Dodgers confirmed and announced the list of 31 preliminary rosters for the Tokyo Series. Kim Hye-sung's name was not seen.

Fabian Ardaya, a reporter in charge of The Athletic Dodgers, posted on his SNS on the same day that `Kim Hye-sung will not go on an away trip to Japan with him. Manager Dave Roberts said Kim Hye-sung made the decision to start the season with Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers.

In addition to Kim Hye-sung, the Dodgers also made Bobby Miller, a promising starting player, join Triple-A for the season. In addition, right-hander Giovanni sent Jegojos, catcher Dalton Rushing, infielders David Bottie and Michael Chavis, and outfielder Eddie Rosario down to minor league camp.

In the case of Bodhi, he showed off his hottest batting skills with a batting average of 0.400, two homers, nine RBIs and an OPS of 1.171 in the exhibition game, but he failed to achieve his dream of promoting to the Major League. Bodhi can exercise his opt-out rights later this month and I'm curious about his choice.

Kim Hye-sung tried to adapt to the new swing form during the exhibition game, but only hit 0.207. AP Yonhap News

Kim Hye-sung finished the exhibition game with a batting average of 0.207 (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 games. He showed some adaptability with a batting average of 0.333 and an OPS of 0.945 in nine games in March, but failed to make a dramatic turnaround. The strikeout rate reached 33.3 percent.

As expected, it should be said that the weak bat's ability has been hampered.

When Kim Hye-sung rarely showed a sharp hit at the end of last month, Roberts praised him, saying, `A player who can win with just one defense,' but added, `There is one question mark on Kim Hye-sung, which is a hit. I think there is something different about the fight with the pitcher (from Korea). be adjusting one's swing form", he explained.

At the recommendation of the Dodgers in the early spring training, Kim Hye-sung changed his form to a slightly horizontal step without raising his right foot when hitting. He improved his adaptability to the new batting form, but he was judged to need more time to adjust in the minor leagues.

Coach Dave Roberts has made a lot of comments about Kim Hye-sung's hit. AP Yonhap News

Kim Hye-sung struck out 11 times in 33 at-bats in the exhibition game with a 33.3% strikeout rate. AP Yonhap News

Roberts said, `Kim Hye-sung believes in himself and comes here to compete. be in a race for a seat"But I want to be clear that there are questions about hitting. From our point of view, it's a fair idea."

Looking at his batting form, he said, `I think there should be a full-scale adjustment to cope with high speed. We have to deal with the right-hander's flamboyant movements, cutters and changeups at the end of the ball"He also said. The fact that Roberts made a lot of comments about Kim Hye-sung's batting meant that he had to go to the minor leagues and practice more because he was dissatisfied.

In the match against Cleveland on the same day, Kim Hye-sung played as a substitute and was silent with no hits in two at-bats. Kim Hye-sung took his first at-bat in the bottom of the fifth inning with two outs and a third base leading 10-0. At the ball count of 2B2S, left-hander Ryan Webb pulled a slider in the middle of the 5th pitch of 87.2 miles, but it became an ordinary ground ball flowing straight to the second base. The batting speed was 83.1 miles.

Then, in the eighth inning with a 10-4 lead, he went as the leadoff hitter and struck out swinging. Left-hander Andrew Misiazek misled his bat on an 86-mile outside slider on the fifth pitch.

Kim Hye-sung, who had a batting average of 0.304 in the KBO and 0.326 last year, raised expectations in the bat-to-ball skill, started the season in the minor leagues by realizing the fast speed of major league pitchers and the wall of strong breaking balls.