The Dodgers watched Hyeseong Kim deliver an epic milestone Wednesday night. And showered him with a special treat afterward.
Kim sent the baseball flying over right center field in the bottom of the fifth. The ball sailed at 385 feet following a strike loading four-seam pitch.
The Dodgers’ dugout busted out a special treat for him. Kim walked into a sunflower seed shower — captured by Dodgers Beat.
The left-handed batter tied the game up 3-3 off that blast. His HR topped at an exit velocity of 104.3 mph. The launch angle hit 26 degrees.
But Kim has impressed early with the Dodgers. Including manger Dave Roberts giving a glowing review back on May 7. Roberts raved about Kim’s “unconventional” at-bats, plus his level of focus.
Reactions sprout for Hyeseong Kim home run with Dodgers
Kim earned a bevy of praise online following his sunflower moment. He earned a ringing endorsement from Dodgers reporter Noah Camras.
“He’s been everything the Dodgers could have asked for and more,” Camras said on X. “He deserves to be on the roster for the rest of the year, no matter who returns from the IL (injured list).”
“Kim NEEDS to stay up and develop. His speed and versatility is going to provide value. Dodgers youth movement is on,” McKain posted on his X account.
There was even a Korean translation for Kim’s blast.
“Comets are raining down on Dodger Stadium,” the broadcast said.
The MLB X account even handed Kim this comet-themed graphic.
Kim earned his first career start nearly 10 days ago. He’s is trying to insert himself into a star-studded lineup featuring Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, and others.
But Kim is also filling for National League Championship Series Most Valuable Player Tommy Edman. The Dodgers even addressed Edman’s injury by trading for Steward Berroa of the Toronto Blue Jays. Now Kim’s sudden development leaves Roberts likely rethinking his starting lineup. Especially after watching Kim pound his first milestone MLB home run.
