You demoted Kim Hyesung!' Dodgers' starting rotation for the opening 2nd series 'ALL Day' is shocking

*This content was translated by AI.

The Los Angeles Dodgers, which sent infielder Kim Hye-sung (27) down to the minor league, virtually appointed a starting rotation to take charge of the opening of the 2026 season. While the "all-time" rotation was completed in which three Japanese pitchers took the mound in a row against the Cleveland Guardians, the second series of the opening, Korean major leaguer Kim Hye-sung left a regret with the news of the minor league relegation.

According to multiple media outlets, including Dodgers Beat, which mainly deals with Dodgers news, the Dodgers, which will begin its regular league schedule on the 27th (Korea Standard Time), will thoroughly start Japanese pitchers.

First and first, "Ace" Yoshinobu Yamamoto (28), who was produced by Japan, will be selected for the opening game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on the 27th. Emmett Sheehan (27) will take the mound on the 28th and Tyler Glasnow (33) will open the season on the 29th.

The white rice is a three-game series at home against the Cleveland Guardians. The Dodgers will start with Rocky Sasaki (25) on the 31st, Shohei Ohtani (32), who will face a full-fledged second-rate season as a pitcher on April 1, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto again on the 2nd. It is an unprecedented scene in which Japanese pitchers occupy the starting mound of prestigious Major League clubs for three consecutive days.

Yamamoto and Ohtani's start is a somewhat convincing decision, but Sasaki's regular league start is somewhat unexpected. Sasaki started all three exhibition games, but left a bad performance with a 13.50 ERA with one win and no loss. The average on-base allowance per inning (WHIP), an indicator of pitcher stability, reached a whopping 2.70. In other words, nearly three runners were sent out per inning. The hit rate was also somewhat higher at 0.310.

The ball power remained, but it was apparent that the team struggled with the control of the ball and the adaptability of big league hitters, but the Dodgers gave Sasaki an opportunity to start immediately and gave infinite trust. Sasaki is preparing for her last appearance through an exhibition game against the Los Angeles Angels at 10:10 a.m. on the 24th.

On the other hand, a cold reality awaited Kim Hye-sung (27), who showed off his hot bat throughout the exhibition game. Kim Hye-sung recorded a batting average of 0.407 during this camp, showing one of the best contact abilities among infielders in the team. In particular, the running sense and multi-position digestibility using fast feet seemed sufficient to increase the possibility of joining the roster.

However, the Dodgers announced on the 23rd that it would downgrade Kim Hye-sung to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Alex Freeland (25), who remained in the batting average of 10%, was named in the opening entry, while Kim Hye-sung, who showed a sexual show of force, packed up. Freeland's performance at the batter's box was a little better, so there are many backstories not only in Korea but also in the U.S. and Japan.

This is not a matter of gradesAnalysts say it is close to Juss's "player management strategy." With the main infielders saturated, the intention is to maintain their sense of practice by playing in the minor leagues every day rather than putting Kim Hye-sung on the bench. At the same time, it seems to be intended to give Freeland, a "top prospect," a little more opportunity. However, it contrasts with Sasaki Rocky's chances despite the sluggishness.

However, Kim Hye-sung has started the season in the minor leagues for the second consecutive year, but the prevailing view is that it is only a matter of time before the big league call-up if he maintains his current batting condition.

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*This content was translated by AI.