Ohtani, I found Kim Hye-sung with a smile! "Humanly great friend → I can't wait to play a good game"

*This content was translated by AI.

Friendship shone ahead of the World Baseball Classic (WBC), the world's best national competition in baseball. Shohei Ohtani (32), a key member of the Japanese national team, did not hide his excitement ahead of a reunion with Kim Hye-sung (27, LA Dodgers), a key infielder of the Korean national team.

Ohtani answered a question from reporters asking them to name the most anticipated Korean player at the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) official interview held at Tokyo Dome in Japan on the 4th.

In response to this question, Ohtani said in a second without even thinking, "I'm paying attention to Kim Hye-sung. Because they were on the same team. And above all, he's a really great human friend, he said. "We always have fun. I can't wait to meet on the field and play well with each other," he said.

The relationship between the two players is special. Kim Hye-sung, who rose to the top infielder in the KBO League, wore a LA Dodgers uniform ahead of the 2025 season. As a result, Kim Hye-sung was in a relationship with star Ohtani. The two players, who have built trust by sharing each other's training methods since the spring camp ahead of the 2025 season, are now facing a showdown of fate on behalf of their respective countries.

It is very unusual for Ohtani to raise his "personality" beyond "skill" of a specific player in public. This proves that Kim Hye-sung's sincerity, humility and serious attitude toward baseball in his first major league season have even captured the hearts of "superstar" Ohtani. Japanese media are also pouring out articles about Kim Hye-sung and praising his humility every day. Even the full count of Japanese baseball media described "Ohtani laughed at a Korean reporter's question."

When asked in an interview with Korean reporters after training on the 4th whether he had contacted Japanese players from the Dodgers, including Ohtani, Kim Hye-sung also said, "I answered no comment to the Japanese media because it was a story outside of baseball," adding, "If we meet in the game, it's an important showdown, so I'll do my best with a strong determination."

Baseball fans around the world are paying attention to how Kim Hye-sung, who received Ohtani's "special respect," will respond on the WBC stage and the confrontation between the two geniuses, who meet as national rivals in their Dodgers colleagues.

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*This content was translated by AI.