Now Roberts' conclusion is that he will take the opportunity to young Kim Hye-sung, 10 years of veteran, and acknowledge the core of the survival platoon as if he is looking at it
May 19, 2025
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The Dodgers released Taylor on the 19th (Korea time) when Tommy Edman was reinstated from the injured list (IL). Edman was on the IL due to a right ankle injury on the 4th. Edman, who had been on rehabilitation for more than two weeks, returned immediately without a minor league rehabilitation game and played in center field six times for the Los Angeles Angels.
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In the 2017 regular season, he recorded a batting average of 0.288, 21 RBIs, and an OPS of 0.850, and he contributed to the team as an all-weather main fielder who watched both inside and outside the field until 2021. He also became a co-MVP with Justin Turner in the 2017 NLCS against the Chicago Cubs.
Thanks to this, he was able to re-sign with the Dodgers for four years and $60 million after the 2021 season. However, Taylor has not met expectations at all since then. In this season, the last year of his contract, he showed his worst performance with a batting average of 0.200 and an OPS of 0.457 in 28 games I was eventually kicked out. He has only posted a batting average of 0.222 and 29 home runs over the past four years. It was not enough for a player who received an average of $15 million per year.
Crucially, a new player appeared to replace Taylor. It's Kim Hye-sung.
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MLB.com reported Taylor's release on the same day, saying, `The Dodgers, who broke up with Taylor, will leave Kim Hye-sung on the roster even if Teoscar Hernandez returns tomorrow.'Juss bench members have been centered on right-handed hitters such as Austin Barnes, Taylor, Kieke Hernandez and Miguel Rojas, but with Kim Hye-sung and Rushing joining, left-handed hitters have been reinforced and balanced.
The Dodgers are certain to send outfielder James Outman down to Triple-A when Teosca, who is out with a groin injury, returns on the 20th. Outman has been sluggish with a batting average of 0.125 in nine games since the call-up on the 7th. There is no reason to leave out Kim Hye-sung.
On Taylor's release, Roberts said, `Obviously, we're in a fierce competition right now. That's why I think we need to nurture young players and give them opportunities in this team with a lot of veterans" he said. He explained that young players like Kim Hye-sung are more helpful to the team.
President Andrew Friedman also said, `The balance between working out how to ensure the stability and continuity of the team and putting in new players is a really delicate task. Obviously, the technical aspect"Every year we try to find the right balance. Again, this is not what we said 'Okay, this is what happens in May. It's just that this is how things went."
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Kim Hye-sung can play three positions: second baseman, shortstop, and center fielder. All three positions are certain to be the main players. The Dodgers' 'Best9' are catcher Will Smith, first baseman Freddie Freeman, second baseman Edman, third baseman Max Muncy, shortstop Mookie Betts, left fielder Michael Confoto, center fielder Andy Pazs, right fielder Teosca, and designated hitter Shohei Ohtani.
Kim Hye-sung's position has also diminished as he has firmly established himself as the main center fielder with a batting average of 0.280 (46 hits in 164 times at bat), nine homers, 27 RBIs, 23 points and an OPS of 0.827.
For the time being, Edman's playing time will also be allocated to Kim Hye-sung, but if Kim Hye-sung fails to continue his current presence, Edman is likely to continue to start. He signed a five-year, $74 million extension last winter. He was recognized for his position as a main player.
Kim Hye-sung was excluded from consecutive starts in the game against the Los Angeles Angels on the 18th and 19th. This is because the left-hander was the starter in both games. This is the part that signals that Kim Hye-sung's way of playing in the future will be 'This is how it will be'.
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This article was translated by Naver AI translator.