Mike Salas
Since being sent down to the Dodgers Triple-A Affiliate Oklahoma City Comets. Hyeseong Kim has been working out the kinks in his offense.
During spring training Kim showed signs of having the ability to hit in the Majors but had problems catching up to velocity and chasing off speed pitches. Kim is now leading the team in runs scored and is four RBI’s behind Alex Freeland who leads the team with seventeen.
Kim had a breakout series against Round Rock getting 6R / 9H / 3doubles / 3 HR / 7RBI / 2SB. He started three games in centerfield, two at short stop, and one at second base. Not only was his offense on display, but his defense abilities came up big in key situations of the six-game series.
Through fifteen games Kim has started fourteen games, leads the team with seven doubles and sixteen runs scored. He has one triple, thirteen RBI, four stolen bases, and recorded three homeruns this past week. Kim has the sixth best batting average on the team, being .290AVG / .362OBP / .581SLG / .943OPS.
Not only newly appointed head coach Scott Hennessey who has led the team to first place in the PCL, but also hitting coaches Manny Burriss and Dylan Nasiatka have a lot to do with Hyeseong Kim’s fast improvements. In the first few games of the season, coach Hennessey had Kim batting in the bottom of the lineup. He has since moved him to leadoff hitter and Kim is flourishing.
When you look at the batting averages of the bottom five of the Dodgers lineup, Kim is smoking them. All thanks to the coaching staff in Oklahoma.
Not only has his batting greatly improved, but Kim has also shown his versatility on defense. Kim has demonstrated the ability to play centerfield, short stop, and second base.
This past week in Oklahoma’s series against Round Rock. Hyeseong Kim made a statement that he seriously needs to be looked at to move up to the Majors. In the month of April, Kim is hitting .308AVG / .357OBP / .596SLG / 3HR / 9RBI / 3SB / 6 2B. The KBO player who signed with the Dodgers in the off season is going to make the Dodgers front office decision difficult on when to bring him up and who to send down or trade.
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