Kim Hyesung, an infielder with the Los Angeles Dodgers-affiliated Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers, registered no hits in two at-bats with two walks during a game on May 3.
The game against the San Diego Padres-affiliated Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas saw Kim start at shortstop, batting seventh in the lineup. His performance brought his Triple-A season Batting Average down from .257 to .252. His on-base plus slugging percentage also decreased slightly.
This follows a recent stretch where Kim had shown signs of improved hitting. On April 27, he recorded a multi-hit game, going 2-for-4 with a walk and a run scored. That outing had lifted his season batting average to .263 and OPS to .809.
Despite the fluctuations in hitting performance, Kim has continued to demonstrate speed on the bases. As of April 29, he was tied for second in the Pacific Coast League with 12 stolen bases. Earlier reports indicated a 100 percent success rate on stolen base attempts.
Speed is an area where the Major League Dodgers roster has lagged this season. As of late April, the Dodgers had totaled only 13 stolen bases as a team, ranking among the lowest in Major League Baseball and last in the National League.
Kim's profile includes defensive versatility, having played second base, shortstop, and center field in Triple-A. His power hitting has also exceeded some expectations, contributing four home runs and a .466 slugging percentage through April 29.
The Major League Dodgers have experienced inconsistent production, particularly from the lower part of their lineup. OPS figures for the seventh (.579) and eighth (.538) spots in the batting order ranked near the bottom of the National League as of April 29.
While Kim Hyesung's speed and defensive flexibility align with potential needs for the Major League club, particularly given some current player struggles on the roster, there have been no public indications of an imminent promotion from Triple-A. Other players in Triple-A, such as James Outman, have also recently contributed with power.
