90% Recovery If Kim Hye-sung returns, who will be the third baseman? I'm going to start as a second baseman

Aug 09, 2025

90% Recovery If Kim Hye-sung returns, who will be the third baseman? I'm going to start as a second baseman
LA Dodgers Kim Hye-sung is announcing his imminent return as he has performed all defense, hitting and running training. AP Yonhap News



90% Recovery If Kim Hye-sung returns, who will be the third baseman? I'm going to start as a second baseman
Alex Freeland, who entered the big league when Kim Hye-sung was on the IL, hits in the second inning against St. Louis on the 6th (Korea time). ImagesYonhap News
Los Angeles Dodgers Kim Hye-sung, who was excluded from his power due to a shoulder injury, is expected to return soon. He believes that he has recovered 90 percent of his condition.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said on the 7th (Korea time) "Kim Hye-sung is recovering well." He said he rose about 90%, which means he's about 80-85%." "I did batting training again today." That's a good sign. He ran and got a grounder. We expect the period of registration on the injured list (IL) to be short."

Kim Hye-sung went 0-for-3 against the Cincinnati Reds on the 29th of last month and was diagnosed with left shoulder 'burtis' the next day and went on the 10-day IL. It was an aggravated injury in the second half. The team then moved to Tampa Bay, and Kim Hye-sung flew to LA and went on a break to receive injection treatment. And from the 5th, he resumed running, hitting, and defensive training one after another to prepare for his return. Kim Hye-sung can return after the 9th according to the regulations.




First of all, it has been over 9 days, so the possibility of returning on the 10th or 11th is expected.

Kim Hye-sung's gap is filled by infielder Alex Freeland, who is growing up with Triple-A Oklahoma City Comets. He made his major league debut by starting as the ninth third baseman against the Cincinnati Reds on the 31st of last month, and started six of the seven games his team played before the St. Louis Cardinals on the 7th. Except for the match against St. Louis (second baseman) on the 6th, he took third baseman position.

90% Recovery If Kim Hye-sung returns, who will be the third baseman? I'm going to start as a second baseman
Alex Freeland. ImagesYonhap News
However, as Max Muncy returns from a knee injury on the 5th, Freeland will be primarily at second base. This is because Tommy Edman, the existing second baseman, was on the 10-day IL due to a right ankle injury. Edman's expected return is believed to be later this month or after September. The ankle injury has been around since the beginning of the season, and it takes quite a while to recover because it has worsened recently.




Freeland was also listed in the starting lineup as a second baseman in a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Dodger Stadium on the morning of the 9th. Clayton Kershaw and Max Scherzer are scheduled to face off as starters between the two superstars. Muncy, who played as a pinch hitter on the 7th, will go out as the starting third baseman.

Freeland batted .286 (6 for 21) with two RBIs, one walk, eight strikeouts and an OPS of 0.634 in six games. Then, what will happen to Freeland's fate if Kim Hye-sung returns. There is a high possibility that it will go down to Triple-A again.

Freeland threw a pitch from the outfield in the top of the eighth inning with two outs and runners on the first and second bases with a 3-2 lead over St. Louis on the 7th, and provided an excuse for both runners to home and turn the tables 3-4. In the end, the Dodgers failed to keep the lead and kneeled 3-5 despite Shohei Ohtani's active pitching.








This article was translated by Naver AI translator.