Platoon stress is already high, so will Kim Hye-sung's error + replacement of elbow pain meet Lee Jung-hoo properly in the three SF series?

Jun 12, 2025

Platoon stress is already high, so will Kim Hye-sung's error replacement of elbow pain meet Lee Jung-hoo properly in the three SF series?
LA Dodgers Kim Hye-sung is sprinting after hitting a ground ball to the second base in the fifth inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on the 12th (Korea time). AP Yonhap News



Platoon stress is already high, so will Kim Hye-sung's error replacement of elbow pain meet Lee Jung-hoo properly in the three SF series?
Kim Hye-sung is hitting his right elbow by Randy Vazquez's body ball in his first at-bat in the top of the third inning. Photo = MLB.TV Capture
LA Dodgers' Kim Hye-sung started the game, but was replaced in the second half of the game again. But this time, the personality was different.

Kim Hye-sung played as second baseman in the last of three consecutive away games against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on the 12th (Korea time) and had no hits and one out in two at-bats. But he made a defensive error.

Kim Hye-sung, who got on base once with a hit ball in the third at-bat and failed to get a hit, was replaced by Kiké Hernández in defense in the bottom of the seventh inning. It didn't change during the attack.




Earlier, it was interpreted that this was because Kim Hye-sung made an error that led to a loss when defending in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Platoon stress is already high, so will Kim Hye-sung's error replacement of elbow pain meet Lee Jung-hoo properly in the three SF series?
Second baseman Kim Hye-seo receives Manny Machado's ground ball to third baseman from Max Muncy during defense in the bottom of the sixth inning and posits Luis Arraez to first base. However, first baseman Freddie Freeman became a bad pitch that he could not catch and was recorded as an error. Photo = MLB.TV Capture
San Diego's lead Luis Arraez walked in the sixth inning. Manny Machado then hit a ground ball toward third base. Third baseman Max Muncy caught it and threw it to Kim Hye-sung to force Araez from second base. However, Kim Hye-sung's throw to first base, which was about to double-play, fell to the side where first baseman Freddie Freeman could not catch it and entered the dugout. The batter advanced to second base.

After forcing Araez out, Kim Hye-sung did not take his foot off the base and threw it to first base with an underhand form. It seems that he threw in a hurry because a close game was expected at first base. The accuracy was inevitably reduced. Kim Hye-sung gave a humble smile.




San Diego then made up one point with a sacrifice fly by Gavin Sheets after Jackson Merrill's left-handed hit created a chance with one out and runners on the first and third bases. Machado, who went out due to Kim Hye-sung's error, homered and was a non-penalty point for pitcher Jack Drier. The Dodgers then replaced the pitcher with Kirby Yates, caught Xander Bogaerts with a fly ball to right field, and fortunately finished the inning without additional runs.

Platoon stress is already high, so will Kim Hye-sung's error replacement of elbow pain meet Lee Jung-hoo properly in the three SF series?
Kim Hye-sung hits an infield grounder in the top of the fifth inning. AP Yonhap News
However, after the game, manager Dave Roberts said of Kim Hye-sung's replacement situation, `I changed it because I had pain in my elbow after being hit by a dune. It will be all right." He said it was not a reprimand replacement for the error in the sixth inning.

Kim Hye-sung got on base with a pitch in his first at-bat in the top of the third inning. San Diego starter Randy Vazquez's right elbow hit by an 89.7-mile cutter on the third pitch. There didn't seem to be much of a shock because they were wearing protective pads. As soon as Kim Hye-sung was hit by a dune, he took off his batting gloves and elbow guards and ran to first base. After stepping on first base, he listened to first base coach Chris Woodward's whisper, but the pain was not readable.




Moreover, Kim Hye-sung caught a ground ball by Luis Arraez in the defense in the bottom of the third inning and threw it to first base normally. I couldn't have guessed he had elbow pain. However, according to Roberts' explanation, he played with some pain remaining.

Roberts replaced Kim Hye-sung with pinch hitter Kike Hernandez in the eighth inning when left-handed pitcher Adrian Morehorn came out even though Kim Hye-sung hit a triple against left-handed pitcher Yuki Matsui in the match against San Diego the previous day. Matsui's restraint is relatively slow. But Morehorn's restraint is faster. It can be tricky for Kim Hye-sung. I wanted to give Hernandez a chance", he explained.

He then praised "Kim Hye-sung is doing well in everything he has to do." In the end, Roberts hopes Kim Hye-sung will hit the right pitcher better and Kike will target the left pitcher as expected. It should be considered that the 'left and right play' continues.

Platoon stress is already high, so will Kim Hye-sung's error replacement of elbow pain meet Lee Jung-hoo properly in the three SF series?
Kim Hye-sung hits a home run in the bottom of the fifth inning and hits Michael Confoto. AFP Yonhap News
Kim Hye-sung has no choice but to play with anxiety that if the game exceeds the fifth inning, he will be replaced at any time. In the previous day's game, he entered the batter's box in the eighth inning and withdrew back to the dugout after receiving a replacement signal from the bench. Shohei Ohtani, who was waiting at-bat, tapped Kim Hye-sung's back as he entered with his lips firmly, was caught on the broadcast screen.

The jagged platoon playing method can be stressful for players.

The Dodgers, which beat the San Diego Padres 5-2 to end the three-game series with two wins and one loss, will take a day off on the 13th and play the first three games of this season against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium from the 14th. The confrontation between Lee Jung-hoo and Kim Hye-sung is already drawing keen attention. If Kim Hye-sung starts all three games, it is an absolutely hot attraction. San Francisco's rotation of three consecutive games is in the order of Logan Webb, Landon Loop and Kyle Harrison. Harrison is the only left-hander. Kim Hye-sung can start at least twice.





This article was translated by Naver AI translator.