'Just in case' has changed to 'As expected' Los Angeles Dodgers' Kim Hye-sung (26) was absent from the starting list for the third consecutive game. It is also unclear whether he will play as a substitute.
The Los Angeles Dodgers will play their 2025 Major League Baseball (MLB) home game against the San Diego Padres at 11:10 a.m. on the 18th (Korean time) at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. Ahead of this, manager Dave Roberts unveiled the starting lineup, but there was no name for Kim Hye-sung.
On this day, the Dodgers' batting order consisted of Shohei Ohtani (DH), Mookie Betts (striker), Freddie Freeman (first baseman), Wilson Smith (catcher), Teoscar Hernandez (right fielder), Max Muncy (third baseman), Andy Farggs (midfielder), Michael Confoto (left fielder), and Tommy Edman (second baseman).
This is the best nine order that Roberts usually uses. Recently, the Los Angeles Dodgers have won three consecutive games and started to solidify their position as No. 1 in the National League West. Prior to San Diego, the winning series against the second-place San Francisco Giants widened the gap to 2.5 games. He won the first game of four consecutive home games against third-place San Diego, and ran away by a gap of four games.
Therefore, there is no reason to change the starting lineup. When the team is in a good mood after winning consecutive games, it is common not to change the starting lineup. It is a common method in the KBO League. It can be seen that Kim Hye-sung also did not get a chance to select for this reason.
Coincidentally, the starting pitcher San Diego put forward on the day is right-hander Randy Vasquez. Vazquez, who has 3 wins, 4 losses and a 3.57 ERA in 14 starts this year, once started in a San Diego home game against the Dodgers on the 12th. At that time, Vazquez allowed one run with two hits, one walk, and one pitch in four ⅔ innings, including one home run, and went down the mound without a win or loss.
Kim Hye-sung started the game as the ninth second baseman and was hit by Vazquez in his first at-bat as a leadoff hitter in the top of the third inning. At the ball count of 0B2S, the third ball hit the right elbow guard.
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| LA Dodgers Kim Hye-sung is hit on the right elbow by Randy Vazquez's ball against the San Diego Padres on the 5th. Photo = MLB.TV Capture |
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Kim Hye-sung has been in poor condition since this dune. Kim Hye-sung, who got on base with a pitch in the top of the third inning, did not get a hit at the plate afterward. In addition, he made a bad pitch error in the defense in the bottom of the sixth inning and was replaced in the defense in the bottom of the seventh inning. Roberts said after the game that `Kim Hye-sung was suffering from pain in his right elbow. This seems to have contributed to the defensive error. So I replaced it. He explained the reason for the replacement, saying, "If you take a day off for a bruise or something, you will be fine."
Coincidentally, the number of Kim Hye-sung's appearances has decreased sharply since that day. After two days off, he started against San Francisco on the 15th and recorded one hit in four at-bats, but was absent from the starting lineup for another three games. Attention is focusing on when Roberts will start Kim Hye-sung again.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
