"Unbelievable" — MLB Fall Classic "Heroes" Derby on the Brink! Kim Ha-seong and Kim Hye-seong Both Expected to Make Rosters: "Kim Hye-seong Is the Fastest Among Dodgers Position Players"

*This content was translated by AI.

Signs are emerging that a "big match" between infielders from the Kiwoom Heroes will take place on the Major League Baseball (MLB) postseason stage. Kim Ha-seong (31, Atlanta Braves) and Kim Hye-seong (27, Los Angeles Dodgers) have both increased their chances of making the postseason rosters, heightening expectations for a head-to-head matchup in the fall.

The prominent U.S. sports outlet "The Athletic" discussed the composition of the Los Angeles Dodgers' postseason roster on the 3rd (Korean time), mentioning Kim Hye-seong's prospects of making the cut. The outlet predicted that even if Kim Hye-seong does not secure a spot in the starting lineup, he could play a decisive role as a "special joker" to determine the outcome in the late innings of games.

Fabian Ardaya, a reporter for The Athletic, found value in Kim Hye-seong's status as a "mainstay" and his "defensive utility." Ardaya noted, "Kim Hye-seong making the roster is not because of his hitting. It is because he can run faster and more exceptionally than anyone else on the Dodgers' position player roster, which includes some of the oldest players in Major League Baseball." He further explained that if a pinch hitter or a promising prospect is inserted in the late game, Kim Hye-seong is "a card that can perfectly fill any infield defensive gap in a two-for-one substitution situation."

The value of speed in the postseason, where games are often decided by a single run, has been proven by legendary moments throughout history. Katie Woo, another staff writer, also described Kim Hye-seong's presence while invoking the playing days of current Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. "If you want to know how important one stolen base is in the postseason, just ask Manager Dave Roberts," she emphasized. Much like Roberts' ninth-inning stolen base that led Boston Red Sox's miraculous reverse sweep in the 2004 American League Championship Series (ALCS), Kim Hye-seong is evaluated as capable of changing the flow of a series with one decisive baserunning play. According to local media, Kim Hye-seong has already joined the Dodgers' team and is reportedly playing simulation games solely as a pinch runner.

On the other side, Kim Ha-seong's participation is highly likely. Since Kim Ha-seong played normally in the recent Wild Card Series, it is widely assessed that his inclusion in this Division Series roster will be smooth. If Kim Hye-seong joins the roster following Kim Ha-seong, who has established himself as a core player on both offense and defense, a unique drama will unfold where the two players, who once shared a meal and formed a keystone combination at KBO League's Kiwoom Heroes, face each other as opponents on the Major League stage.

In short series, one baserunning play by a professional pinch runner or one out recorded by a defensive substitute can determine the superiority of a team in a series. Attention is focused on whether Kim Ha-seong, who has built momentum through the Wild Card round, and Kim Hye-seong, who has earned trust as a "professional pinch runner and defensive specialist," can stage a hot "Heroes Derby" in this postseason.

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*This content was translated by AI.