Kim Hye-seong's Dream of Entering the MLB
cristellecruzsixteen
Hitting 157 km/h and hitting a double… Kim Hye-seong's dream of entering the MLB has become even bigger
Dodgers manager Roberts points out Kim Hye-seong as an impressive Korean fielder.
Kim Hye-seong (25, Kiwoom Heroes) hit a 97.3 mph (approximately 157 km) fastball from active big league starting agent Bobby Miller (24, Los Angeles Dodgers) and hit a double to right field. 파워볼
It was a meaningful shot for Kim Hye-seong, who, like her friend Lee Jeong-hoo (San Francisco Giants), is aiming to advance to the Major League Baseball (MLB).
Kim Hye-seong started as the No. 1 hitter and second baseman for the Korean national baseball team in the 2024 MLB Seoul Series evaluation match against the Dodgers held at Gocheok Sky Dome in Guro-gu, Seoul on the 18th, and scored 1 hit and 1 run in 3 at-bats.
In the top of the third inning, when the team was down 0-1, Kim Hye-seong came to the plate when Kim Seong-yoon reached base with a left-field hit.
Kim Hye-seong targeted Miller's 157 km/h fastball with a ball count of 3 balls and 1 strike.
The batted ball flew 115.5 meters at 163.5 kilometers per hour.
Kim Hye-seong's double gave Korea the opportunity to reach second and third base with no outs, and when Yoon Dong-hee (Lotte Giants) grounded out in front of shortstop, third base runner Kim Seong-yoon hit home to tie the score at 1-1.
At this time, Kim Hye-seong, who had reached third base, scored on Kang Baek-ho (KT Wiz)'s sacrifice fly to center field, putting Korea back up 2-1.
Although they lost 2-5 due to a comeback against the Dodgers, Korean baseball fans erupted in loud cheers when Kim Hye-sung hit a long ball.
After the game, Kim Hye-sung was asked by American reporters, “How did you attack Miller’s fastball?”
He replied, “I took a bold swing because the ball count was favorable,” and “being aggressively prepared led to good results.”
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts singled out Kim Hye-seong as an impressive player, saying, "Among Korean fielders, the second baseman stood out.
He had good hitting and good movement when playing defense."
It was a very pleasant compliment for Kim Hye-seong, who has set her goal of advancing to the MLB.
Kim Hye-seong finished the warm-up match against the MLB team with 2 hits in 7 at-bats, including 1 hit in 4 at-bats against the San Diego Padres the day before and 1 hit in 3 at-bats against the Dodgers on this day.
San Diego starting shortstop Kim Ha-seong also cheered, saying, “Kim Hye-sung has the skills to challenge MLB”
Kim Hye-seong said, “I felt nervous before the evaluation of this Seoul Series,” and said, “But I played without regrets”
Along with her fond memories of her warm-up games, Kim Hye-sung's dream of making it to the big leagues grew even bigger.