Korean infielder Kim Hye-seong determined to top Dodgers teammate Ohtani

Korean second baseman Kim Hye-seong, left, throws the ball to first base to show a double play in opposition to Czechia through the groups’ Pool C sport on the World Baseball Basic at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, March 5. Yonhap

TOKYO — South Korean second baseman Kim Hye-seong has a ton of admiration for Japanese celebrity and his Los Angeles Dodgers teammate Shohei Ohtani — so long as he does not need to face him, that’s.

And that fateful showdown between the 2 will happen Saturday night time on the Tokyo Dome, for each international locations’ second Pool C sport of the World Baseball Basic (WBC).

South Korea opened the match with an 11-4 win over Czechia, Thursday, and Japan, the defending champion, routed Chinese language Taipei 13-0, Friday.

Ohtani smoked a grand slam and had 5 RBIs in that victory, one thing Kim mentioned he loved watching exactly as a result of he was only a spectator.

“He is so nice and it’s all the time enjoyable to see him once we do not play in opposition to him,” Kim mentioned at his pregame press convention Saturday. “Once we are collectively on the Dodgers, I all the time root for him and need him to do properly. However for immediately, when he hits something in my course, I’m going to attempt to catch it and get him out. And I shall be cheering on our pitchers to strike him out, too. He’s an unbelievable participant however I’ll regard him as simply one of many gamers on the opposite group.”

That is Kim’s second WBC look however he didn’t play in opposition to Japan on the earlier match in 2023.

Requested if he was significantly motivated for Saturday night time due to his absence three years in the past, Kim smiled and mentioned, “I feel the one distinction between then and now’s my age.”

“My mindset is identical for each sport. I need to win each sport that I play,” Kim added. “I need to play exhausting and go away all the things out on the sphere. Japan is a title contender right here and it is an honor to be in the identical group with them. And it’ll even be a terrific expertise to play in opposition to such a group.”

Kim mentioned he grew up watching South Korea getting locked in some memorable battles in opposition to Japan in earlier WBC tournaments, and he obtained fired up watching a few of the highlights from these years.

“In baseball, nobody is aware of what can occur till the ultimate out,” Kim mentioned. “If we keep decided and battle exhausting, then I feel we are able to win this sport. Everybody on the group has the identical mindset.”