"First appearance only in the bottom of the 9th"...Kim Hye-sung advances to Dodgers' NLCS, Kim Ha-seong eliminated while injured
The Dodgers defeated Atlanta 4-1 in NLDS Game 4 and advanced to the NLCS with a 3-1 series record. Kim Hye-sung made his first appearance in the bottom of the 9th as a defensive replacement, and Kim Ha-seong finished the season while injured.
Translated from Korean with AI assistance. Read the original. Sources and original publication dates are retained.
October 8 Korea time, the location was Atlanta. In the bottom of the 9th with the Dodgers leading 4-1, Kim Hye-sung took the field at second base. This was the first time he stepped on the field in this postseason. In the same game, Kim Ha-seong ultimately did not play. The postseason paths of the two players who played together at Kiwoom Heroes diverged.
Dodgers 4-1, 3-1 series record; Kim Hye-sung first appearance in bottom 9th as defensive replacement
Yonhapnews according to reports, the Dodgers defeated Atlanta in an away game that day 4-1. The Dodgers ended the series 3-1, and Yonhapnews reported this as a third consecutive NLCS appearance. Atlanta's elimination was confirmed. The hit by Flores who struck the deciding run was recorded differently by different media outlets. Newsis reported it as a double, but Yonhapnews and the official MLB article recorded it as a single.
Ilgan Sports according to reports, the time Kim Hye-sung played was bottom 9th as a defensive replacement, just one inning. The team's advancement to the next round and his contribution to the victory should be viewed separately. For him who moved between Triple-A and the big leagues this season, one inning is not a light matter.
Kim Hye-sung salary 3.75 million dollars vs Kim Ha-seong 20 million dollars, approximately 5.3 times
Newsis according to reports, Kim Hye-sung's Dodgers contract is 12.5 million dollars guaranteed over 3 years. The 2026 season salary is 3.75 million dollars. According to MLB reports, Kim Ha-seong signed with Atlanta for 20 million dollars for the 2026 season. If you divide 20 million dollars by 3.75 million dollars, approximately 5.3 times. Among the two players whose 2026 season contract size differs by more than 5 times, Kim Ha-seong finished the season while injured, and Kim Hye-sung advanced to the next round.
If all options are exercised, Kim Hye-sung's contract can extend up to 22 million dollars over 5 years. If we arrange the current contract guaranteed totals of four active MLB position players from Kiwoom in order, it is as shown in the table below. Since contract periods vary for each, this table should not be read as annual income ranking.
| Rank | Player | Guaranteed Total (Dollars) | Team/Contract |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lee Jung-hoo | 113 million | San Francisco, 6 years |
| 2 | Kim Ha-seong | 20 million | Atlanta, 1 year (2026 season) |
| 3 | Song Sung-mun | 15 million | San Diego, 4 years (MLB, according to officials) |
| 4 | Kim Hye-sung | 12.5 million | Dodgers, 3 years guaranteed (options excluded) |
Kiwoom alumni KBO career 953 games vs 891 games, 77 stolen base difference
Both players went through Nexen/Kiwoom Heroes before heading to the United States. KBO official recordsshow that Kim Hye-sung left a batting average of 0.304 and 211 stolen bases in 953 games from 2017-2024. Kim Ha-seong recorded a batting average of 0.294 and 133 home runs in 891 games from 2014-2020. Kim Ha-seong has 96 more home runs (133-37), and Kim Hye-sung has 77 more stolen bases (211-134).
| Player | Period | Games | Hits | Home Runs | Stolen Bases | Batting Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kim Hye-sung | 2017-2024 | 953 | 1,043 | 37 | 211 | 0.304 |
| Kim Ha-seong | 2014-2020 | 891 | 940 | 133 | 134 | 0.294 |
Kim Ha-seong was a power-hitting shortstop. Kim Hye-sung was an infielder with many stolen bases who played second base and shortstop, and also serves as a center fielder with the Dodgers.
Dodgers' NLCS opponent Milwaukee, Game 1 October 12, best-of-7
Yonhapnews and Ilgan Sports report that the Dodgers' NLCS opponent is Milwaukee and Game 1 is Korea time October 12. The series is best-of-7. Newsis wrote '7-game-5-win series' in the photo caption and marked the next round as 'World Series' in one part of the article. Compared to Yonhapnews reports from the same day, NLCS and best-of-7 are correct.
For Kim Hye-sung, some things remain undetermined. The team's NLCS advance is confirmed, but whether he will remain on the NLCS roster and whether he will start have not been confirmed as of October 9, 2026 at 03:00 Korea time. Kim Ha-seong finished his one-year contract season with Atlanta's elimination.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is Kim Hye-sung's salary?
According to Newsis, Kim Hye-sung's 2026 season contract salary is 3.75 million dollars. His contract with the Dodgers is 12.5 million dollars guaranteed over 3 years, and can extend up to 22 million dollars over 5 years if options are exercised.
Q. Is Kim Hye-sung's NLCS appearance confirmed?
No, it is not confirmed. The Dodgers' NLCS advance is confirmed, but Kim Hye-sung's inclusion in the NLCS roster and whether he will appear need to be separately confirmed as of October 9, 2026 at 03:00 Korea time.
Q. What are the Dodgers' NLCS schedule and opponent?
According to Yonhapnews, the Dodgers face Milwaukee, and Game 1 is held on October 12 Korea time. The series is best-of-7.
Related Official Sites
- Los Angeles Dodgers Official Website — Check NLCS schedule and team roster announcement
- Atlanta Braves Official Website — Check team season end news
- Kim Hye-sung MLB Official Player Record — Check postseason appearance record
- Kim Ha-seong MLB Official Player Record — Check 2026 season record
Featured image · Archive photo · Not a current game photo in the article · Photo=Wikimedia Commons(Craigfnp), CC BY-SA 4.0
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