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| Lee Jung-hoo hits a right-handed hit in the third inning and advanced to second base on a follow-up hit in an exhibition game between the Dodgers and Giants at Glendale Camelback Ranch, Arizona, on March 2 (Korea time). AP Yonhap News |
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| Lee Jung-hoo and Kim Hye-sung are moving together during training for the Tokyo Olympic team in July 2021. Sports Chosun DB |
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The National League's best 'Big Match' will be held this season.
The Los Angeles Dodgers, last year's World Series champion, will invite the San Francisco Giants to Dodger Stadium for a three-game series from the 14th to the 16th (Korea time). It is the first face-off of the season between the two teams ranked first and second in the West Division.
There are plenty of things to see. Korean big leaguer Lee Jung-hoo of San Francisco and Kim Hye-sung of the Dodgers meet for the first time as 'enemy' and clash. It is a big match in the Major League on the weekend, which will attract the attention of domestic fans.
The official Major League website paid attention to this. MLB.com published an article titled `From KBO to MLB, the first matchup between Lee Jung-hoo and Kim Hye-sung promises very special things' on the 13th.
Dodgers reporter Sonya Chen, who wrote the article, said, `The two players, well-known as Grandson of the Wind and Comet, were the best stars in Korean baseball before entering the Major League. The three consecutive games at Dodger Stadium are drawing attention as the best match without concessions in June, and Kim Hye-sung's Dodgers lead the NL West by just one game over Lee Jung-hoo's Giants.'
Reporter Chen then said 'This means a lot to Lee Jung-hoo and Kim Hye-sung, who are best friends. The two players went on a professional baseball journey together in their home country before entering the Major League, adding that they played together for the Korean amateur team even before entering the professional league, and spent seven seasons with the same team after being drafted in the same year.
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| San Francisco Giants Lee Jung-hoo. ImagesYonhap News |
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| LA 다저스 김혜성. AP Yonhap News |
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In particular, Kim Hye-sung said in an interview with the media "It is a wonderful and fun event to meet Chung-hoo as a competitor. I think it would be a very new feeling to face him as an opposing team" he said.
Lee Jung-hoo said of Kim Hye-sung during a spring training session in February, `When we go to the field and the game starts, we won't think too much of each other,' but added, `But Kim Hye-sung always has a corner in her mind"He expressed his feelings.
Regarding the relationship between the two players, Chen said, `Even in a busy schedule, the two players communicate often. Earlier this year, Kim Hye-sung called Lee Jung-hoo a person who seeks advice to survive in the big leagues. Both players are fully supported by their respective teams, and there are players who have something in common in that regard, but it is comforting to have someone closer to a new situation.'
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| Lee Jung-hoo recently hit and scored six consecutive starts. AFP Yonhap News |
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| Kim Hye-sung competes according to the platoon method. AP Yonhap News |
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It is not known how much the two players will meet in the three games, but unlike Lee Jung-hoo, the main center fielder and leadoff, it is worth paying attention to how much opportunity Kim Hye-sung will be given to start. As Chen said in this article, `Kim Hye-sung, who started the season in the Minor League, was tasked with honing his swing form, and has been struggling with a platoon role since he was called up to the big league in early May.' Kim Hye-sung will be out of the starting lineup if his opponent makes a left-hander selection.
San Francisco is expected to start the three consecutive games in the order of Logan Webb, Landon Loop and Kyle Harrison. The left-hander among them is Harrison. In other words, it is highly likely that Kim Hye-sung will be excluded from the starting lineup in the third round on the 16th. The Dodgers' rotation is in the order of Yamamoto Yoshinobu, Clayton Kershaw, and Dustin May.
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| LA Dodgers Shohei Ohtani. AFP Yonhap News |
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Another thing to watch is the leadoff showdown between Dodgers Shohei Ohtani and Lee Jung-hoo. Ohtani has been playing NL MVP again this year, but has recently slowed down. After hitting his 23rd home run of the season against the New York Mets on June 3, he failed to add a home run in nine consecutive games.
Ohtani is batting .250 (11 hits in 44 at-bats) with one homer, an RBI, five runs scored, and an OPS of 0.729 in 11 games in June. Ohtani was strong in June in previous years. He hit a batting average of 0.293 with 12 home runs and 24 RBIs in June last year, and hit 15 home runs and 29 RBIs with a batting average of 0.394 in 2023. I've never been silent in June like this year.
On the other hand, Lee Jung-hoo recently led his team to seven consecutive wins by making hits and scoring in six consecutive starts. In particular, he has recently played as a leadoff in three consecutive games against the Colorado Rockies and is certain to take the lead in offense against the Dodgers.
As of the 13th, the Dodgers have 41 wins and 28 losses and San Francisco has 40 wins and 29 losses, ranking first and second by one game. The ranking may change depending on the results of the three consecutive games.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
