1 S. Korean player moves on, another eliminated in MLB postseason

SEOUL, October 8 - In the MLB postseason, a South Korean player has advanced and another has been eliminated. The Los Angeles Dodgers, two-time defending World Series champions, secured a 4-1 victory over the Atlanta Braves in the National League Division Series (NLDS), clinching their advancement to the National League Championship Series. There, the Dodgers will face the winner of the Milwaukee Brewers versus the San Diego Padres matchup.

For the Dodgers, South Korean infielder Kim Hye-seong made his first postseason appearance of the year as a defensive replacement at second base in the bottom of the ninth inning. As a sophomore, Kim appeared in only 43 regular season games, batting .259 with one home run, 11 RBIs, and five steals. He spent most of the year in the minors.

The Dodgers called up Kim on September 28 and included him on their postseason roster. Throughout his MLB career, Kim has played multiple positions, including second base, shortstop, center field, and left field. He has only been caught twice out of 20 successful steal attempts. Last year, Kim made history by becoming the first South Korean position player to win a World Series title, setting his sights on becoming the first South Korean player to secure consecutive World Series rings.

The Braves' season came to an end, marking the conclusion of a challenging year for their South Korean shortstop, Kim Ha-seong. In December, after a brief stint with the Braves due to injuries, Kim signed a one-year deal as a free agent, hoping for a successful 2026 season and a lucrative payday on the open market. However, a severe finger injury sustained in January, after slipping on ice and falling in South Korea, forced Kim to miss significant time during the season.

Despite recovering, Kim struggled with a career-low .116 batting average (51 games), striking out 38 times while only walking 16 times. In the postseason, he went 0-for-5 with three strikeouts in two games. He was subsequently benched for the crucial NLDS game against the Dodgers.