Seattle: Kim Hye-seong of the Los Angeles Dodgers has ended his first regular season in Major League Baseball (MLB) with a home run. The South Korean big league rookie blasted a two-run homer to open the scoring as the Dodgers defeated the Seattle Mariners 6-1 at T-Mobile Park.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the home run was Kim's only hit in four at-bats during the game. Kim, who joined the Dodgers in January after an eight-year stint in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), completed his rookie campaign with a .280/.314/.385 line, three home runs, 17 RBIs, and 13 steals over 71 games. Despite playing less than half the season, he ranked third on the Dodgers in steals and showcased his versatility by playing at second base, shortstop, and center field.
The 26-year-old began the season in the minors and made his MLB debut on May 3. Kim initially batted .422 in May but struggled in the following months, hitting just .193 in July and missing all of August due to a shoulder injury. In September, he managed only 23 at-bats with his finale homer as the sole extra-base hit for the month.
The Dodgers, the 2024 World Series champions, are advancing to the postseason after securing the National League (NL) West title with a 93-69 record. They are set to face the Cincinnati Reds in the best-of-three Wild Card Round.
In related news, Kim's former KBO teammate, Lee Jung-hoo of the San Francisco Giants, went 3-for-4 with two RBIs to lead his team to a 4-0 victory over the Colorado Rockies. Lee concluded the season with a .266/.327/.407 line, eight home runs, 55 RBIs, and 10 steals in 150 games, leading the Giants in triples and doubles.
Meanwhile, Kim Ha-seong of the Atlanta Braves, another former KBO player, went 0-for-3 with a walk as the Braves defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-1. After joining the Braves following a challenging season with injuries and team changes, Kim Ha-seong ended the season with a strong September performance.
The Braves finished fourth in the NL East with a 76-86 record, while Kim Ha-seong transitioned into an everyday shortstop role for the team.