Finally, today (22nd), they clash! Lee Jung-hoo and Kim Hye-sung face off in a surprise matchup against Japanese starter Yamamoto in the starting lineup reveal.

*This content was translated by AI.

Best friends Lee Jung-hoo (28, San Francisco Giants) and Kim Hye-sung (27, Los Angeles Dodgers), who built their friendship while sharing a meal at the Korean professional baseball team Kiwoom Heroes, will face each other for the first time this season across the ocean.

Lee Jung-hoo and Kim Hye-sung were both named in the starting lineup for the matchup between the 2026 MLB Dodgers and Giants, held at Oracle Park in San Francisco, California, USA, at 10:45 a.m. (Korean time) on the 22nd. The season's first "Korean Derby" has come to fruition.

On this day, Lee Jung-hoo will start as the sixth hitter and right fielder. Kim Hye-sung has been placed as the seventh hitter and shortstop.

San Francisco has started with Landon Leup. The starting lineup was arranged as follows: Will Adams (shortstop), Luis Arraez (second baseman), Matt Chapman (third baseman), Rafael Devers (first baseman), Kyle Schmidt (designated hitter), Lee Jung-hoo (right fielder), Elliott Ramos (left fielder), Drew Gilburt (center fielder), and Patrick Bailey (catcher).

The Dodgers will start with Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The batting order is Shohei Ohtani (designated hitter), Kyle Tucker (right fielder), Freddie Freeman (first baseman), Teoscar Hernandez (left fielder), Max Muncy (third baseman), Dalton Rushing (catcher), Kim Hye-sung (shortstop), Alex Cole (center fielder), and Alex Freeland (second baseman).

Lee Jung-hoo and Kim Hye-sung began as teammates when they joined Nexen Heroes (now Kiwoom Heroes) in 2017, showcasing their best performances on the Korean stage until 2023 before boarding planes for the United States one after another. Lee Jung-hoo first stepped onto the big league stage ahead of the 2024 season, receiving a massive sum of $113 million over six years. Then, one year later ahead of the 2025 season, Kim Hye-sung donned the Dodgers uniform under a five-year contract worth $22 million.

This is not the first time the two have faced off in the big leagues. They met five times last year. Kim Hye-sung displayed his agility with 5 hits in 15 at-bats, 2 RBIs, and 2 stolen bases. Lee Jung-hoo contributed with 4 hits in 17 at-bats, 3 RBIs, and 3 walks. In terms of team performance, the Dodgers held a 4-1 advantage against the Giants.

Before this game, Lee Jung-hoo has recorded a .244 batting average (19 hits in 78 at-bats), 1 home run, and 8 RBIs in 22 games this season. Attention is focused on how he will perform against Yamamoto. Kim Hye-sung has posted solid stats in 12 games with a .308 batting average (8 hits in 26 at-bats), 1 home run, 3 RBIs, 3 stolen bases, and an OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage) of 0.906.

Who will laugh and who will cry in this matchup between the two? Expectations among Korean baseball fans are growing.

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*This content was translated by AI.