Kim Hye-sung, 25, who is trying out for the major leagues, has hit a home run in an exhibition game.
Kiwoom won 3-1 in an exhibition game against the Chungshin Brothers of the Taiwan Baseball Organization on Sunday at CTBC Park in Pingtung, Taiwan. Hye-sung, who batted first and second in the starting lineup, went 1-for-2 with a double, a home run, two RBIs, and one run scored. She drove in the winning run.
Kim’s home run came in the third inning. Trailing 0-1 in the third inning, Kim Dong-heon and Lee Jae-sang singled to open the inning. However, Park Soo-jong hit a single in front of the pitcher. With runners on second and third, Kim Hye-sung stepped to the plate and hit a two-run arch over the right field wall. Kim Hye-sung’s home run was enough for Kiwoom to take the lead for good.
Kiwoom added an insurance run in the ninth inning. With the bases loaded in the top of the ninth, Lee Hyung-jong drew a walk and the next batter, Ko Young-woo, hit a double to bring home Nussang. Kiwoom recorded his first victory in an exhibition game in Taiwan.
After the game, Kim Hye-sung told the club, “We all wanted to win today, and it feels good to win. The home run was lucky. I wasn’t swinging for the fences. In practice, I’ve been applying the things I’ve been preparing all winter to the game, and I think that’s why I was able to hit the ball so well,” she said.
“In practice, I try not to pay attention to the results. My biggest goal is to make the swings I want. Of course, it’s disappointing if I don’t get a hit, but I have to focus on the process and prepare. That way, I think I will have good results in the season. This season, I will work hard and prepare well so that I can achieve good results,” she said.
This year is very important for Kim. She will be challenging for the major leagues through the postseason posting system. She will also have a showcase at the MLB World Tour Seoul Series right before the start of the season. Kim is eligible to play for both his club Kiwoom and the Korean national team. Kiwoom will play a special game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at 12 p.m. on March 17 at Gocheok Sky Dome. The national team will face the San Diego Padres at 7 p.m. the same day.
Kim Hye-sung has a chance to showcase her skills against a major league team in her hometown of Gocheok Sky Dome. If she performs well, she could attract the attention of the Dodgers and San Diego, who have a strong interest in Asian athletes.
Kim’s announcement that she wants to play in the major leagues also attracted a lot of attention from local media in the United States. ‘MLB Traders,’ a website that focuses on the Major League Baseball transfer market, said, “Kim Hye-sung is not a power hitter. However, she has consistently reduced her strikeouts and improved her ability to draw walks. She has posted a batting average of over 30% in the last three seasons,” said the site.
Already, Kim has received interest from major league clubs. Scouts who visited Gocheok Sky Dome to see Lee Jung-hoo and Ahn Woo-jin in action also took notice of Kim. Her defensive ability to play second base, shortstop, and center field, as well as her precise hitting and quick feet, appealed to scouts.
Kim Hye-sung has been working hard in the offseason to fulfill her big league dreams, and it’s paying off in practice. It will be interesting to see how she performs in the MLB World Tour Special Game.