Kim Hye-sung is on the verge of giving Edman second base in 2023 WBC and 2025 Dodgers...a cold reality, a time of patience
Kim Hye-sung is on the verge of giving Edman second base in 2023 WBC and 2025 Dodgers...a cold reality, a time of patience
Blog Article
Is it a joke of fate.
Korea has made efforts to actively recruit Korean Major Leaguers for the 2023 World Baseball Classic. As a result, Tommy Edman (aged 30, LA Dodgers) earned the national flag. Edman was an versatile player who had just started his major league career with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Edman was able to see both me and the outfield, but he steadily played as a second baseman with the St. Louis Cardinals. As a result, the team naturally used Edman as its main second baseman. This meant that Kim Hye-sung (26, LA Dodgers), who was likely to be the main second baseman, went to the backup.
Kim Hye-sung successfully turned into a second baseman in 2022 and won the Golden Glove Award. He was definitely a second baseman for the World Baseball Classic national team. However, Edman's appearance pushed him to the background. He could have gone to shortstop, who won the 2021 Golden Glove, but that position naturally belonged to Kim Ha-sung (30, Tampa Bay Rays).
Kim did her best. She continued to hit hard at practice games ahead of the WBC. KT Wiz coach Lee Kang-cheol had no choice. As the KBO had no choice but to use Edman as its main player, Kim had to use him as an all-weather backup. As such, the Korean national team also ended the WBC unfortunately.
Two years have passed. What kind of prank is this? Kim signed a three-plus-two-year, 22 million-dollar contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and is now tying with Edman, who joined as a trade midway through the 2024 season. Then, Gavin Lux (Cincinnati Reds) was traded. Naturally, Kim seemed highly likely to join the team as the main second baseman. Edman was expected to be the main center fielder.
However, as Kim Hye-sung's adaptation process to the Dodgers spring camp is somewhat more advanced, the possibility of going to the minor league is mentioned here and there. He had a batting average of 0.118 with one homer in eight exhibition games until the 3rd (Korea time). It is a small sample for anyone to see. It is a huge change to lower the position of the hand holding the bat and to significantly reduce the movement of the leg. Not to mention the past eight games, it is a tight time for the Dodgers to fully adapt even if they play in all eight exhibition games in the future.
However, the Dodgers has to determine the Tokyo Series members, namely the opening entry, through the remaining eight games. It has no choice but to evaluate Kim at this stage. Kim Hye-sung, a rookie in the Major League, has no leverage he has accumulated so far. His batting performance in the KBO League was not overwhelming. It is true that he is a player whose weak power is long hitting power in the Major League. Kim also jumped into the Major League after learning about the reality that he does not have the right to reject a minor player and that he is not guaranteed the starting pitcher.
U.S. media predict that Edman will start the season as the starting second baseman. Kim Hye-sung does not take the main role in a Dodgers with good depth, but it will not hurt him. The outfield is less heavy than the infield, but Teoscar Hernandez and Michael Confoto should take the lead. There is no problem even if Edman is the main second baseman. Edman has already played in 633 games in the Major League and signed a five-year, 74 million-dollar long-term contract with the Dodgers. He has a big gap with Kim.
In the end, Kim Hye-sung is on the verge of giving way to Edman every two years, coincidentally. Of course, it's a coincidence, but this is a stark, cold reality. There is no other way for Kim Hye-sung. You can't even make an opening entry yourself. You can do your best, wait for the results, and live accordingly.
It is okay to start the season in the minor leagues instead of Tokyo Dome. Since there is no minor veto, the Dodgers can call up Kim Hye-sung even during the season without burden. There are options of defense and mobility. It is unlikely to stay in the minor leagues because there are many uses. No team gives a $22 million contract to spend only in the minor leagues.
After all, the most important thing is to focus on improving the completeness of the changes in the batting average that are currently underway. Even if he fails to make the opening entry, it is meaningful if he or she confirms the completion even at Triple-A. When he or she is called up to the 스포츠토토 Major League, he or she can show it properly.
Kim has three years. If the Dodgers prepare and show her performance in a long-term manner for three years, the day will come when it recognizes her unconditionally. For Kim, this is a time of patience. And it is time to pursue the future.