Kim Hye-seong Called Up? Definitely Not! LAD Makes Cold Choice: 'August Batting Average 0.169' — Thomas Chosen Instead of Kim

*This content was translated by AI.

Kim Hye-seong (27), who had been aiming to rejoin Major League Baseball with the Los Angeles Dodgers, ultimately failed to make his return. Although an opportunity arose due to outfielder Andy Paredes' injury absence, the Dodgers made a cold decision.

On the 23rd (Korean time), the Dodgers officially announced that they placed left-handed outfielder Paredes on the injured list (IL) after he suffered a fractured wrist and called up outfielder Alex Thomas from Triple-A. Paredes was confirmed to be out for four to five weeks after being hit in the back of his hand by a 100 mph fastball during a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates the previous day (22nd).

With Paredes' absence, Kim Hye-seong emerged as a strong replacement candidate in local circles. As a utility player capable of playing both infield and outfield positions, Kim has demonstrated his value as an outfield option by handling center field (13 games, 104 innings) and left field (3 games) throughout his minor league career, in addition to second base. However, this season, he started only three times at center field.

But a critical flaw held him back: poor hitting performance. On the 22nd, Kim started as the sixth hitter and second baseman in a minor league game, showcasing excellent defensive play by preventing a stolen base with a clean tag. However, at the plate, he went hitless in five at-bats. As a result, his season batting average dropped to 0.256, and his OPS (on-base plus slugging) fell to 0.669. Particularly concerning was his performance in August: excluding the game on the 23rd, his batting average plummeted to 0.169 (11 hits in 65 at-bats), reflecting a severe hitting slump. During that period, his OPS was only 0.555.

In contrast, Thomas, who was selected by the Dodgers, is a veteran with 449 major league games under his belt. This season, he has been hitting powerfully in 55 minor league games, posting a .296 batting average, seven home runs, and an OPS of 0.855. For the Dodgers, who urgently needed to fill the outfield void and boost their offensive firepower, choosing Thomas — a dedicated outfielder with hot hands — over Kim, whose hitting had cooled off, appeared to be a natural decision.

Although this call-up did not materialize, opportunities remain. Starting in September, the major league roster will expand from 26 to 28 players under the expanded roster rule. It remains to be seen whether Kim Hye-seong can quickly overcome his August hitting slump and bounce back in the remaining time.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.