For Kim Hye-seong (24, Kiwoom Heroes Lee Sang), this 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC) is a golden opportunity to overturn the major league (ML)’s suspicious eye toward him.
Kim Hye-sung was included in the list of 30 final entries for the 2023 WBC announced on the 4th. Personally, it is the second Taegeuk mark after the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. 안전놀이터
The expected role is an infield utility. Lee Kang-cheol, coach of the Korean national baseball team, said, “Edman is a player who won a Gold Glove in the major leagues in 2021. It is a resource that can form a keystone combination with Kim Ha-seong.” I can see third base, but I decided that Kim Ha-seong was better,” he said, revealing his infield operation plan.
Kim Hye-sung’s name is nowhere to be found. Kim Hye-seong is the first KBO League talented infielder to win the Golden Gloves second baseman (2022) and shortstop (2021) category. However, it is expected that the team will start as a backup because the infield is outstanding, including only two major leaguers. Along with Kim Hye-seong, Choi Jeong (SSG) was selected as the professional third baseman, Oh Ji-hwan (LG) and Kim Ha-seong (San Diego) as the shortstop, and Tommy Edman (St. Louis) as the second baseman.
It is too early to be discouraged that it is not the first week. Not only are his competitors outstanding, but Kim Hye-sung’s outstanding athletic ability and versatility are recognized and noticed by not only the KBO league but also the major leagues. The quick feet that won the stealing king in 2021 are an important weapon that can reverse the flow in the second half of the game.
Fan Graph, an American baseball statistics media, updated information on overseas league players in December of last year, saying, “Kim Hye-sung’s contact tools and speed tools enable him to play as a utility player in the major leagues. In the KBO league, he stole 80 bases in the past two seasons combined. I did it, and I cut it under 4 seconds from home to first base.” 안전놀이터