Roberts, are you going to keep your promise this time? Kim Hye-sung hints that he will use more as a second baseman
Jul 01, 2025
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LA Dodgers' Kim Hye-sung is expected to start more games. Manager Dave Roberts plans to increase Kim Hye-sung's chances to play.
In an interview with SportsNetLA dedicated to the Dodgers game on the 30th (Korea time), Roberts said, `As a way to move forward, we will give Kim Hye-sung more opportunity to play second base. Tommy (Edman) will start in center field in the future."
This means that he will soon bench left fielder Michael Confoto, who is suffering from a slump. Confoto has a batting average of 0.173 and an OPS of 0.602 in 71 games. It is somewhat unexpected to reduce the role of Confoto, who signed an FA contract for $17 million last winter, to a bench member, but there is no other way as the slump continues.
In response, local media Dodger Blue said 'Andy Pazs is the main center fielder, but if Kim Hye-sung and Edman get into the lineup at the same time, he will move to left field. This means that Confoto's playing time will be reduced'Roberts said he recognizes that Confoto is facing something important ahead of the trade deadline.
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If this becomes a reality, Kim Hye-sung is actually the main second baseman. However, if the opposing starting pitcher is left-handed, Kim Hye-sung is still likely to be excluded from the starting lineup. It is subject to the platoon method.
Dodger Blue said, "'Kim Hye-sung is strong in left-handers, but he is likely to start only in right-hander selection games.'"Juss has several ways to include Kim Hye-sung in the lineup. It is to reduce Confoto's playing time and give Mookie Betts more rest like Teoscar Hernandez and Freddie Freeman. If this happens, Kim Hye-sung will start in three to four games a week, which Roberts has already planned,' he said.
Kim Hye-sung has played in 37 games since her Major League debut on May 4. There are only 24 starts, 13 games for second baseman, 9 games for center fielder, and 2 games for shortstop. In particular, he played in two games as a starter and three as a substitute out of the last nine games played by the team. However, including three games in which he did not bat just based on defense, he missed seven games. Even when the opponent's starter was right-handed, he was often left out.
In an interview with another media outlet, Orange County Register OCR), Roberts responded, `Let's take a look. Since Tommy has a good look at the outfield, Teosca and Farz can take a day off, and Kim Hye-sung has some opportunity, we have a lot of left-handed hitters. You should make good use of the roster. I don't think it's fair to discuss a week's appointment" he said.
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Roberts then said, `Kim Hye-sung is playing every position he can prepare. Based on the processed information we get, it seems like a student who studies the game well. He's definitely gotten rid of the habit of spring training legs. I think it's helping. He is good at dealing with fast balls. Sometimes he is sensitive to slow balls, but he is still coping with the pitchers who try to target him. He can be seen making adjustments at the batter's box. As I said two weeks ago, he is increasing his chances.'
If Kim Hye-sung has more opportunities to play as Roberts said, he can participate in the NL Rookie of the Year competition. Kim Hye-sung has a batting average of 0.383 (31 hits in 81 at-bats), two homers, 12 RBIs, 16 runs, seven steals, and an OPS of 0.968. He ranks first in batting average and OPS among 73 rookie batters with 27 at-bats or more this season. The left-hander faced five times and went 4 for 5.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
