Does it hurt? Kim Hye-sung is not here. Why on earth? It's SF's right hand? Lee Jung-hoo will go to the top of center field

Jun 14, 2025

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

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

The Korean big leaguer face-off failed. This is because Los Angeles Dodgers' Kim Hye-sung was excluded from the starting lineup.

The Dodgers used Tommy Edman, not Kim Hye-sung, as a second baseman in a home game against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium at 11:10 a.m. on the 14th (Korea time).

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts formed the lineup in the order of Shohei Ohtani (designated hitter), Mookie Betts (striker), Freddie Freeman (first baseman), Will Smith (catcher), Teoscar Hernandez (right fielder), Max Muncy (third baseman), Andy Parz (center fielder), Michael Confoto (left fielder), and Edman (second baseman). The starting pitcher is right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

Kim Hye-sung's absence even though opposing San Francisco starter Logan Webb is right-handed seems to be due to a problem with his elbow condition.

Kim Hye-sung started against the San Diego Padres on the 12th and got on base with a pitch in his first at-bat in the third inning. San Diego starter Randy Vazquez's 89.7-mile cutter struck him in the right elbow, and he didn't seem to have much of a shock because he was wearing a brace. However, he was replaced by Kiké Hernández in defense in the bottom of the seventh inning while playing offense and defense smoothly. It wasn't during the offensive inning.

After the game, Roberts changed it because he was hit by the ball and had pain in his elbow. It will be all right." It was also explained that it was not a reprimand for the throwing error that led to the loss of the defense in the sixth inning.

Kim Hye-sung is surprised to be hit by his foul ball in the second inning against the New York Mets on the 4th (Korea time). AP Yonhap News

Since the Dodgers had a day off the previous day, they expected to be able to play against San Francisco on the same day. In addition, MLB.com was so interested that it published an article titled 「From KBO to MLB」, which predicts that Kim Hye-sung and San Francisco's Lee Jung-hoo will face off, and the first matchup between Lee Jung-hoo and Kim Hye-sung promises very special things」.

If there is a problem with Kim Hye-sung's elbow, the injury may be prolonged. If not, there could have been a change in Roberts' appointment method.

Dodgers Nation, a local media outlet, said on the same day 'Kim Hye-sung is intensively dealing with right-handed pitchers during his early tenure at the Dodgers. Roberts said, `I believe it is best for the team that Kim Hye-sung plays the role of platoon' Kim Hye-sung is hitting well with three hits in four at-bats against left-hander Adrian Morehorn in the eighth inning of the match against San Diego on the 10th, and sent Hernandez, who has an OPS of only 0.676 in left at-bats this season, to strike out him.'

On the other hand, Lee Jung-hoo will start as a leadoff center fielder as expected. San Francisco coach Bob Melvin will take the starting lineup in the order of Lee Jung-hoo, Willie Adames (striker), Elliott Ramos (left fielder), Dominic Smith (first baseman), Wilmer Flores (designated hitter), Casey Schmidt (third baseman), Mike Yastremski (right fielder), Tyler Fitzgerald (second baseman), and Kisner (Andrew catcher).

Lee Jung-hoo recently hit and scored in six consecutive starts, and has batted 0.333 (7 hits in 21 at-bats), scored 9 points, and recorded an OPS of 1.150 in the last 7 games since the game against San Diego on the 5th. His performance for the season was 0.275 (70 hits in 255 at-bats), six home runs, 32 RBIs, 41 points, 22 walks, 6 steals, a on-base percentage of 0.333, a slugging percentage of 0.443, and an OPS of 0.776. It's his first match with Yamamoto.

The two teams will start Clayton Kershaw-Randon Loop on the 15th and Dustin May-Kyle Harrison on the 16th. San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Harrison is a left-hander on Wednesday.