LA Dodgers manager Dave Roberts seems to have to accept the fact now.
Currently, the most 'hot' player in the Dodgers is 'Hyesung Express' Kim Hye-sung (26). The pace is at its peak, including offense, defense, and baserunning. Leaving a player like this on the bench is really stupid. When water comes in, you should actively use it like a paddle.
Two days ago, Kim Hye-sung, who excited American baseball fans by writing the first record in Major League history, started in two days and made another multi-hit. This time, the stolen base was accompanied by a good defense. With this, Kim Hye-sung once again imprinted that he is a player who does his part well once he comes out as a starter.
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| LA Dodgers Kim Hye-sung hits a superior two-run home run in the bottom of the second inning against the New York Yankees at Dodger Stadium on the 1st (Korea time). AP Yonhap News |
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Kim Hye-sung started as the 9th shortstop in the 2025 season home game against the New York Mets at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California on the 3rd (Korea time) and recorded 2 hits and 1 dor in 4 at-bats. Kim Hye-sung started as the 9th shortstop in an interleague home game against the New York Yankees on the 1st and played a scary performance with 4 hits in 4 at-bats (one home run), 1 walk, 2 RBIs and 3 runs.
In addition, he came out as a shortstop in the top of the third inning, caught a straight hit (one out) and hit the first and second bases with no outs, and then threw himself to the second base to tag out the leading runner Austin Wells (two out) to complete a 'single double play'. In the top of the sixth inning, he also moved to center field and caught Aaron Judge as a Bodhisattva at second base.
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| Hit fielder Kim Hye-sung catches a straight hit by Yankees Jobit Vivas and quickly throws himself to second base, leaving second baseman Austin Wells out. AP Yonhap News |
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In this way, Kim Hye-sung achieved all four hits, including a home run, and 'single double play'+'Outdoor Bodhisattva' in one game, performing like 'Fraud Character'. Turns out this was the first MLB record. Opta Statts, a statistics company, said Kim Hye-sung is the first player to hit more than four hits in a game, including a home run, and at the same time record a double play and an outfield bodhisattva in defense in the modern era since 1900.
However, a day after such a fantastic performance, Kim Hye-sung was excluded from the starting lineup. When the Yankees announced left-handed pitcher Ryan Yarbrough as the starting pitcher, Roberts activated 'Platoon System' to rest Kim Hye-sung. He didn't trust Kim Hye-sung's hot pace. In the end, Kim Hye-sung came out as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the eighth inning against the Yankees on the 2nd and struck out. Afterwards, Roberts said on the 3rd that he would put Kim Hye-sung as a starter again before the Mets.
Kim Hye-sung, who started as the ninth shortstop in the game on the 3rd, showed his skills that Roberts, who continues to apply the platoon system, was wrong. He showed everything he could show, including multi-hit + hoo-bi + steal.
The defense in the top of the first inning was unusual. With two outs and a runner on the first base, he quickly caught and handled a hit by Mets No. 4 hitter Pete Alonso, showing stable shortstop defense. The Golden Glove winner in the KBO League shortstop category in the 2021 season was alive.
Kim Hye-sung, who showed light movement in his first defensive inning, stepped down with a ground ball in front of the first baseman in his first at-bat with one out in the bottom of the third inning when he was trailing 0-1. However, in the bottom of the fifth inning with two outs and a runner on first base, he had a hit to the left against opposing starter Paul Blackburn. In ball count 2B2S, he hit the 5th breaking ball properly. The Dodgers faced a chance to score with two outs and runners on first and second bases. However, the follow-up Shohei Ohtani only grounded out to second base and failed to score.
Kim Hye-sung, who failed to add a hit as a well-hit ball flew straight to center field after one out in the bottom of the seventh inning, made an infield hit with a fast foot in the bottom of the ninth inning with one out and a runner on first base. The hit that separates the center line was blocked by the Mets shortstop's good defense, but Kim Hye-sung made a safe at first base after a sprint.
Thanks to this, the Dodgers, who had a chance to get first and third bases with one out, tied the game 2-2 with Ohtani's sacrifice fly. Kim Hye-sung made a chance to finish by stealing a base with two outs and one base. However, Kique Hernandez's strikeout eliminated the chance to end the game.
In the end, the Dodgers lost 3 to 4 after a close game in the 10th inning of extra time. Although the team lost, Kim Hye-sung's performance was outstanding. Multi-hit with Freddie Freeman and Andy Paz, and even stole. Kim's batting average for the season rose to 0.420 (21 hits in 50 at-bats). The OPS is a whopping 1.033.
In particular, his batting average in the last seven games has reached a whopping 0.538 (7 hits in 13 at-bats). In addition, if the period is limited to the last week, he is the unrivaled best hitter in the team. He has a batting average of 0.667 (6 hits in 9 at-bats).
It is proven by figures that he is currently the scariest hitter in the Dodgers. Coach Roberts is likely to give more chances to start.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
