"Kim Hye-sung is perfect for a major." Proving the value properly, he laughed with "walking + stealing + hosobi + infield hit." batting average of 0.364 [LAD Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

Hyesung (27, Los Angeles Dodgers) is impressive whenever he plays after being promoted to the Major League.

Kim Hye-sung started as the ninth batter shortstop in the 2026 Major League (MLB) home game against the Texas Rangers at Uniqlo Field at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California on the 12th (Korea time) and played one hit, one walk, and one stolen base in three at-bats.

Kim Hye-sung's batting average for the season fell slightly from 0.375 to 0.364 (4 hits in 11 at-bats), but his on-base percentage rose from 0.455 to 0.467 and his slugging percentage fell from 0.500 to 0.455. The on-base plus slugging ratio (OPS) became 0.922.

Kim Hye-sung, who joined the Dodgers last year and recorded a batting average of 0.280 (45 hits in 161 at-bats) and an OPS of 0.699 in 71 games, flew much higher with a batting average of 0.407 (11 hits in 27 at-bats) and an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 0.967 at exhibition games ahead of this season.

However, Kim Hye-sung, who had to start the season in the minor leagues, maintained an excellent batting sense with a batting average of 0.346 (9 hits in 26 at-bats) in six games and received a big league call-up on the 6th due to the injury of the main shortstop Mookie Betts.

Kim Hye-sung, who played 2 hits, 1 walk, and 1 point in 4 at-bats since the game against the Toronto Blue Jays on the 7th, clearly impressed manager Dave Roberts with 1 hit, 1 walk, and 2 points in 3 at-bats in the game on the 8th.

In the game on the 11th, he was put in the middle of the game and had no hits in one at-bats, but he showed impressive performance on the day when he returned as a starter.

Kim Hye-sung, who stepped down with a fly ball to left field against Texas starter Jack Leiter in his first at-bat in the bottom of the second inning, walked after a full count battle with Leiter in the bottom of the fourth inning with one out and no runner. He immediately succeeded in stealing and connected the opportunity to Ohtani, but failed to score. First steal of the season.

Kim Hye-sung, who has attempted to steal 14 times since last year, failed only once. The success rate increased to a whopping 93.3 percent.

He made a hit in the third at-bat. In the bottom of the sixth inning, he hit a low sinker outside Tyler Alexander, a changed pitcher with two outs and a runner on second base, and had an infield single to shortstop. It was a ground ball, but he headed to an exquisite course and made a hit with fast feet. Once again, he delivered an opportunity to Ohtani, but he struck out and failed to score again this time.

He also shone in defense. In the bottom of the fifth inning, when Josh Smith hit a ground ball with one out and one on the first base, the team ended the inning by combining a double play with Alex Freeland. In the bottom of the eighth inning, he also caught Josh Young's straight hit with one out.

The team won 6-3 and went 11-3 to maintain its lead in the National League West. Ohtani hit his fourth home run of the season from the first inning and continued his on-base streak of 45 consecutive games, the most by a Japanese major league. Following Ohtani, Teoscar Hernandez hits a three-run home run to take the leadJuss added a run in the bottom of the third inning and scored another run in the eighth to secure the win.

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*This content was translated by AI.