Dodgers skipper Roberts ‘really impressed’ with S. Korean pitchers

SEOUL, After watching his Los Angeles Dodgers hitters striking out 10 times against nine South Korean hurlers in an exhibition game in Seoul on Monday, manager Dave Roberts said he was "really impressed" with the pitching talent of this country. In particular, Roberts took note of the 18-year-old right-hander Kim Taek-yeon, who struck out the only two batters he faced in the sixth inning of South Korea's 5-2 loss at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul. Kim fanned two-time Silver Slugger winner Teoscar Hernandez and then James Outman, both with a four-seam fastball. "I was talking to James Outman and he said that the ball just had tremendous life to it and he pitches at the top of the zone," Roberts said of Kim, the No. 2 overall pick at last year's Korea Baseball Organization draft by the Doosan Bears. "I think he was 91 (in miles per hour) but it played up to 95, 96. I was really impressed with the arms, first and foremost. I think there's a lot of arm talent from that Korean team over there." Among position play ers, Roberts said the Dodgers' scouts thought highly of second baseman Kim Hye-seong. Kim, who plays for the Kiwoom Heroes, will be posted for Major League Baseball teams after the 2024 season. "Our scouts like the second baseman: just the way his body moves. There's some life to the bat and defensively (he) made a nice play out there," Roberts said. "There's good baseball players all over the world and so this is just another chance for us to see them and for them to match themselves against us." Source: Yonhap News Agency