Kim Hye-seong Shares His First Year Experience in MLB: Only 170 At-Bats, Still Learning to Face Top Pitchers

The South Korean national team flew to Saipan yesterday to begin their first phase of training camp, with Los Angeles Dodgers’ Korean batter Kim Hye-seong as the only active MLB player on the roster. Korean reports state that after a year of major league experience, he has learned a lot about competing against top pitchers. Kim modestly said, “I have only had 170 at-bats in the MLB.”

Regarding this Classic tournament, Kim Hye-seong has shown a strong willingness to participate and has already joined the team in the first training phase, being the only player on the roster listed in the MLB’s 40-man roster. Korean media believe that since moving to the U.S. last year, he has gained valuable experience facing top pitchers. Kim replied, “It’s still too early to say I’ve mastered any secrets. Last year, I only had 170 at-bats. Younger players might get more opportunities and could possibly perform better than me.”

Last year, Kim Hye-seong signed a multi-year contract with the Dodgers, starting the season in Triple-A. He appeared in 71 games throughout the season, posting a .280 batting average, 3 home runs, 17 RBIs, and 13 stolen bases, and helped his team win the World Series championship.

Kim also shared that during this training camp, his teammates do not treat him as a distant “major league player” but simply as “Kim Hye-seong.” He said, “Everyone gets along well. Although we haven’t trained together yet and I’m not fully aware of the specifics, whenever someone asks me, I’m happy to share. After all, we are all members of the national team. It’s not that I have to take the lead in coaching, but if anyone is curious—even about small questions—I’ll answer seriously.”

South Korea is grouped with Japan, Chinese Taipei, the Czech Republic, and Australia in this tournament, with only the top two teams advancing to the next round. Kim stated that while defeating Japan would be ideal, he calmly analyzed, “Considering the nature of the WBC group stage, winning only against Japan is not enough to advance. Therefore, I hope to prepare well for every team and give my best in every game.”