*This content was translated by AI.
Kim Hye-sung (27, LA Dodgers), who is preparing for his second season after entering the big league, launched a cool home run ahead of joining the World Baseball Classic (WBC) national team. However, Kim Hye-sung showed humility to give credit to "collaboration" with the coaching staff rather than his own skills.
Kim Hye-sung started as ninth batter and second baseman in an exhibition game against the Chicago White Sox in the 2026 Major League Baseball (MLB) at Glendale Camelback Ranch in Arizona on the 27th (Korea time) and produced a home run over the right fence in his third at-bat in the bottom of the sixth inning.
It was his first home run in an exhibition game in four games. Kim Hye-sung, who finished the game safely, recorded a batting average of 0.462 (6 hits in 13 at-bats) and one home run and five RBIs in the exhibition game. The on-base plus slugging ratio (OPS), an indicator of attack productivity, reached a whopping 1.154.
After the game, Kim Hye-sung expressed humility about the home run. According to David Basay, a reporter from SportsNet LA, and Sports Hochi, a Japanese media outlet, after the game, Kim Hye-sung mentioned the system and communication rather than his ability when asked about the secret of the home run in a meeting with reporters.
"I have been communicating closely with the Dodgers batting coach throughout the offseason and making 'little' adjustments in the batting mechanism," Kim Hye-sung said. "I'm especially happy that the subtle changes to maximize the punch power have led to good results today."
As for the home run, he said, "I don't really care about what came out," but added, "I was able to use my lower body a little better at bat. I think the good process came out as a result of the batting called a home run," he pointed out.
According to this explanation, Kim Hye-sung is believed to have focused on improving the "hit explosion power" and the "lower body movement" that is based on it, beyond simply building strength during the Saipan camp, which started as a member of the national team in January. In other words, the results of elaborating his swing by actively accepting the latest data and feedback from the coaches proved to be a long shot in practice. Last season, the Dodgers actually gave high marks to Kim Hye-sung's active attitude.
Kim Hye-sung, who referred to the pleasant home run as "the achievements of those who helped", is now for a whileHe will take off his jersey and wear the national flag. Kim Hye-sung said, "There is also anxiety ahead of the tournament rather than a joy to go to the national team. Above all, the goal is to pass the qualifying round and go to Maimi in the United States," he stressed. He aims to advance to the quarterfinals of the WBC with a bat sharpened by the exhibition game.
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*This content was translated by AI.
