LA Dodgers' Kim Hye-sung succeeded in staying in the big league.
The Dodgers made changes to their roster ahead of a home game against the Los Angeles Angels in the 2025 U.S. Major League Baseball (MLB) at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California on the 19th (Korea Standard Time).
The Dodgers released utility player Chris Taylor after Tommy Edman returned from the disabled list. Also, right-hander Lou Trivino, who was playing for Triple-A, will fill the vacancy of Kirby Yates, who is on the injured list with a right hamstring injury.
What stands out most is that the Dodgers ended its companionship with Taylor. Taylor, who was born in 1990, built his big league career with the Dodgers after playing for the Seattle Mariners, and helped his team win the World Series title in 2020 and last year. In 1,093 games in the big league, he recorded 846 hits in 3387 at-bats for a batting average of 0.250 108 homers, 433 RBIs, and 0.328 slugging percentage of 0.321. However, he did not have any remarkable performance this season, as he recorded seven hits in 35 at-bats for a batting average of 0.200 two RBIs in 28 games.
The Dodgers decided to leave Kim Hye-sung in the big league after agonizing over the return of injured players. The Major League's official website MLB.com said, "The Dodgers also cleared Taylor, who was the team's longest remaining fielder since backup catcher Austin Barnes was released."
"The decision to let Taylor go suggests that Kim Hye-sung is likely to remain on the big league roster even after the return of Teoscar Hernandez," he said. "At the beginning of the season, Dodgers' bench resources were mainly right-handed hitters, but left-handed hitters such as Kim Hye-sung and Dalton Rushing were able to balance them."
Kim Hye-sung, who played in the KBO League from 2017 to last year, signed a contract with the Dodgers through a closed competitive bidding (posting system) in January. He signed a contract worth up to 22 million dollars (about 30.8 billion won) for 3+2 years. The Dodgers, who paid attention to Kim's contact, base running, and defense capabilities, expected Kim to help her bid for the second consecutive World Series title.
Kim, however, failed to display remarkable performance in the exhibition game of the spring camp. The biggest problem was hitting. During the exhibition game, Kim had six hits in 29 at-bats for a batting average of 0.207, one homer, three RBIs, two steals, and a six-point on-base percentage of 0.303. In the end, the Dodgers sent Kim Hye-sung down to Triple-A ahead of the two consecutive "Tokyo Series" that opened the regular season on March 12.
As a member of Triple-A Oklahoma City Comets under the Dodgers since late March, Kim had 29 hits in 115 times at bat with a batting average of 0.252, five homers, 19 RBIs, and a slugging percentage of 0.328. He also displayed his presence in defense, playing various positions including second baseman, shortstop, and center fielder.
Kim had a chance on April 4. To minimize Edman's absence, the Dodgers decided to call up Kim. As a substitute on the day of the call-up, Kim became the 28th Korean player to play in an official Major League game. In the game on May 5, she became a pinch-runner in the top of the ninth inning, achieving her first stolen base since her debut in the big league.
Kim had two hits, one RBI and one run from four times at bat in the game against the Miami Marlins on Sunday. She had one hit, one RBI and one run scored for the first time since her debut in the big league. She continued her good performance against the Miami Marlins on Sunday (four times at bat, one run scored) and Tuesday (four times at bat, two hits, one RBI and one run scored).
He had one hit in three at-bats against the Arizona Diamondbacks on the 11th and 12th. He had no hit in one at-bats in the game against the Athletics on Sunday. He had two hits and one RBI from two at-bats in the game on Sunday. He had three hits, two RBIs and two walks from three at-bats in the game on Sunday, completing the game on the fifth base. 토토사이트
Kim Hye-sung continued his multi-hit streak in three consecutive games by posting two hits in three at-bats against the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday. The Dodgers' rookie has also garnered nine consecutive on-base hits for the first time in 10 years since Corey Seager in 2015.
She will likely continue to receive the opportunity for a while. "She proved why she is a necessary player for her team by showing off her fast feet, stable defense, and accurate hitting ability after the big league call-up," MLB.com reported.
Meanwhile, Kim was excluded from the starting lineup on Wednesday following the game against the Angels on Wednesday. Considering that the opponent team's starting pitcher is left-handed, the Dodgers set up a lineup without Kim. Edman, who returned to the lineup on Wednesday, was listed as sixth batter and center fielder.