In Roberts, Kim Hye-sung is not a 0.395 hitter with a batting average? 3~4G selection platoon per week, 2G consecutive rejected, why?
May 26, 2025
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He entered the pitch batting practice of Shohei Ohtani as a batter. Ohtani, who underwent elbow surgery in fall 2023 and shoulder surgery last winter, took the mound for the first time and checked his pitching condition against batters. Kim He-sung and another left-handed hitter Dolton Rushing were designated as the target hitters.
Ohtani said he also wanted to deal with right-handed hitters, so the Dodgers sent game planning and communication coach JT Watkins to the plate. It can be said that a total of three people experienced pitching equivalent to Ohtani's actual practice.
The confrontation with Kim Hye-sung was interesting. He hit a ground ball once against him twice, and hit a double once.
In his first showdown with Kim Hye-sung, Ohtani induced a ground ball, caught it himself, and took the form of throwing it to first base. It was a rather humorous expression and gesture. Ohtani-like relaxation was revealed. However, in the second match, Kim Hye-sung hit a ball that flew to the right outfield for a line drive. It is difficult to say exactly how many hits it is because there are no defenders, but local media described it as a 'clean double'.
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Kim Hye-sung can say that it was a meaningful day because he took the batter's box twice against Ohtani, who is considered the best pitcher in the Major League.
But he didn't get a chance to play against the New York Mets. Even though the Mets' starter was right-hander Senga Godai, he was excluded from the starting lineup, and he couldn't play as a substitute despite the close game. The batsmen participating in the live pitching are the bench members of the game that day. Kim Hye-sung's role ended that day.
I can feel manager Dave Roberts' eyes on Kim Hye-sung.
Not long ago, when Tommy Edman and Teoscar Hernandez returned from injury, Roberts said of Kim Hye-sung, `I start three to four times a week.' However, in the last six games held in the past week, Kim Hye-sung has started once and replaced twice. He entered the batter's box with just seven at-bats. To Roberts, Kim Hye-sung is not a batter with a batting average of 0.395 (15 hits in 38 times at bat).
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We cannot put more proven major leaguers on the bench, including Edman, Teoscar, Kike, and Miguel Rojas, who earn as little as twice as much as five to six times as Kim Hye-sung. Andy Paz, who has clutch ability and power, is also ahead of Kim Hye-sung.
Shortly after Kim Hye-sung signed a three-year, $12.5 million contract in January, the Dodgers traded Gavin Lux, the main second baseman, to the Cincinnati Reds. Kim Hye-sung was expected to play as the main second baseman right away. However, all plans went wrong in the spring training, and a big league opportunity finally came a month after the opening of the season. First of all, he was evaluated as a backup level over offense and defense, and he avoided going to the minor leagues.
In order for Kim Hye-sung to take the main role, or at least to get frequent starts according to Platoon, there will be a drastic change in the Dodgers roster, or he will have to pioneer himself. Roberts likes home run hitters.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
