Kim Hyeseong's first home run plus defensive versatility secures his spot: "I want to stay in the major leagues, just follow the coaches' instructions."

Los Angeles Dodgers' Korean utility player Kim Hyeseong hit his first home run of the season yesterday. In an interview, he stated: "I hope to continue staying in the major leagues."

At the start of the new season, Kim Hyeseong was initially in Triple-A, but after Mookie Betts was placed on the injured list due to injury, he earned the chance to be promoted to the major leagues. Previously, he did not play the next day after a failed automatic strike/ball challenge, which raised questions from Korean media.

Yesterday he hit his first home run of the season, a two-run shot. So far he has played 8 games, with 5 hits in 18 at-bats, a batting average of .278, an on-base percentage of .391, and an OPS of .891, contributing 1 home run and 3 RBIs. On defense, he has demonstrated high utility value, playing shortstop in 7 games and second base in 1 game.

Local media Dodgers Nation noted that Kim Hyeseong can play shortstop, second base, and even outfield. Currently, he mainly rotates at shortstop with Miguel Rojas based on the opponent's left- or right-handed pitching. Overall, his hitting performance is significantly better than in his rookie season, and his shortstop defense is also very solid. His defensive versatility is highly valued within the team, and his speed adds an extra advantage.

After hitting the decisive home run yesterday, Kim Hyeseong told Dodgers Nation in an interview: "I am really very happy to be playing in the major leagues, it's definitely fun. I also hope to continue staying in the major leagues. I will prove this through my daily actions and show it on the field."

Staying in the major leagues is very important to Kim Hyeseong. He emphasized that his top priority remains continuous improvement and becoming a better player, letting everything else follow naturally.

Kim Hyeseong, via translator Mr. Kim, said: "I was really very happy while running the bases because it was the team's first run, and I felt I contributed. But later I struck out three times, so I was a bit disappointed with myself."

He said: "I think I still have many areas to improve and many aspects I must work on. The team has the best coaching staff, I just need to follow their guidance, maintain communication with them, and accept their instructions. Doing what the coaches tell me is all I need to do right now."