Roberts' stubbornness, Kim Hye-sung's batting average OPS is the top of 73 rookies when he stood at Coors Field's at-bat

Jun 27, 2025

Roberts' stubbornness, Kim Hye-sung's batting average OPS is the top of 73 rookies when he stood at Coors Field's at-bat
LA Dodgers Kim Hye-sung missed the Colorado Rockies match at Coors Field on the 27th (Korea time) and failed to pick up the bat for the third consecutive game. The batting average of 0.372 was not able to take the batter's box even as a pinch hitter. AP Yonhap News



Roberts' stubbornness, Kim Hye-sung's batting average OPS is the top of 73 rookies when he stood at Coors Field's at-bat
쿠어스필드. AP Yonhap News
LA Dodgers' Kim Hye-sung missed his second consecutive game. Based on the at-bat standard, he couldn't sign for work for three consecutive games.

Kim Hye-sung also benched for the last of three consecutive away games against Colorado at Coors Field on the 27th (Korea time). In the first game on the 25th, he played as a substitute in center field in the bottom of the ninth inning, with a big 8-1 lead, but it didn't mean much. He then missed the second and third games in a row.

On this day, the opposing starter was left-hander Austin Gomber. According to the platoon system, left-handed batter Kim Hye-sung will be excluded, switch hitter Tommy Edman will be used at second base, and Andy Pazs, who is highly trusted as a built-in outfielder, will be used at center field. Michael Confoto, who hit consecutive home runs in the first and second games, also took a break, but instead, Kiké Hernández watched left field. It is a lineup that clearly reveals manager Dave Roberts' preference for platoon.




However, Kim Hye-sung did not have a chance to take the batter's box even though the Colorado starters in the first and second games were right-handers Hermann Marquez and Chase Dolander. This is not a platoon. Kim Hye-sung is just a backup utility man.

Roberts' stubbornness, Kim Hye-sung's batting average OPS is the top of 73 rookies when he stood at Coors Field's at-bat
From left, Michael Confoto, Kim Hye-sung, and Andy Pazs. AP Yonhap News
It should be noted that the Dodgers won four consecutive games by sweeping all three consecutive Coors Field games. The Dodgers, who have marked 51 wins and 31 losses (0.622), are not only the leaders in the NL West, but also share the lead with the Detroit Tigers, who are ranked first in the AL Central, throughout the 30 teams.

Kim Hye-sung is doing so well, and there is no way that the issue will be whether he will participate or not. The absence of Kim Hye-sung does not mean that the batting lineup is silent and the defense has become sloppy. Kim Hye-sung ranks first in batting average (0.372) and OPS (0.948) among 73 rookie batters who have played 27 or more at-bats so far. A batter who meets the rule at-bats is a candidate for MVP in the league. But manager Dave Roberts doesn't seem to put much weight on this figure.




Nevertheless, local media are criticizing Roberts for not appointing Kim Hye-sung. Kim Hye-sung's record is clear in the media's 'eye', which deserves to point out Roberts' 'favorite'. But Roberts doesn't budge. On the surface "He's adjusting well to the big leagues.", "The air is full of energy", "I'll try to gain more experience." He is enthusiastic about Kim Hye-sung's praise on his back, but his behavior is different.

Roberts' stubbornness, Kim Hye-sung's batting average OPS is the top of 73 rookies when he stood at Coors Field's at-bat
Kim Hye-sung eventually failed to bat at Coors Field. ImagesYonhap News
However, the Dodgers' left-handed hitters' batting average was 0.264 and OPS was 0.834 respectively, ranking second overall. The batting average of the right-handed hitters is 0.265 and the OPS is 0.771, ranking fourth and second, respectively. It is thanks to Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, and Max Muncy that the left-handed batter team OPS is higher than the right-handed batter. Of course, Kim Hye-sung 'Stake' will be included.

In other words, there is more objective evidence to praise Roberts rather than peripheral evidence to criticize his batting order composition and mercenary skills.




Kim Hye-sung will visit Coors Field, dubbed the `The Tomb of Pitchers' and `The Heaven of the Batters??It may be that. However, Roberts did not take him to the plate. The Dodgers have four consecutive games left at Coors Field on August 19-22. It is not known whether Kim Hye-sung will survive in the big league until then, but Roberts' 'how to use players is unlikely to change.

Kim Hye-sung's most recent at-bat was against the Washington Nationals at Dodger Stadium on the 23rd, four days ago.





This article was translated by Naver AI translator.