Baseball fans keeping an eye on Major League Baseball’s latest wave of Korean talent saw both Lee Jung-hoo of the San Francisco Giants and Kim Hye-sung of the Los Angeles Dodgers notch hits on May 2, 2026, but their efforts weren’t enough to reverse their teams’ recent misfortunes. The two rising stars delivered at the plate, yet the Giants and Dodgers both extended their losing streaks, leaving their supporters hungry for a turnaround.
Lee Jung-hoo, 27, continued to show off his consistent bat as he took the field at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, against the Tampa Bay Rays. Slotted as the Giants’ center fielder and batting seventh, Lee went 1-for-3, nudging his season batting average up to .298. That’s 34 hits in 114 at-bats—a mark that’s keeping him among the most reliable hitters in the San Francisco lineup, even as the team struggles to find its footing.
Lee’s highlight came in the top of the fifth inning. With the Giants trailing 0-2 and one out, he faced Tampa Bay’s left-handed ace Shane McClanahan. Lee didn’t flinch at the 152.6 km/h (roughly 94.9 mph) fastball; instead, he stroked a clean single to right field, putting runners on first and third. The Giants suddenly had a golden opportunity to shift the game’s momentum. But as fate would have it, the next batter, Herar Encarnacion, grounded into a double play, and the rally fizzled without a run crossing the plate.
Lee’s other at-bats were less eventful but still showed his disciplined approach. In the second inning, he flew out to left field after making contact with McClanahan’s outside slider. In his final plate appearance in the eighth, Lee grounded out to second. Despite Lee’s efforts, the Giants’ bats were mostly silent, mustering six hits to the Rays’ five but failing to score a single run. The final score: Rays 3, Giants 0. That defeat marked the Giants’ fourth consecutive loss and left them anchored at the bottom of the National League West standings.
On the same day, over in St. Louis, another Korean infielder was making his mark. Kim Hye-sung, also 27, of the Los Angeles Dodgers, entered the fray at Busch Stadium as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning. The Dodgers were trailing the Cardinals 2-4, and manager Dave Roberts was looking for a spark off the bench. Kim stepped up to face right-handed reliever George Soriano, who was firing 154 km/h (about 95.7 mph) fastballs. Kim got under one and popped it up foul to the shortstop, ending his first at-bat.
Not deterred, Kim took over at second base in the bottom of the seventh, bringing his defensive skills to the infield as the Dodgers tried to mount a late comeback. The real fireworks, however, came in the top of the ninth. With the Dodgers down 2-7 and two outs, Kim faced right-handed reliever Matt Swanson. Swanson unleashed a 157 km/h (97.5 mph) sinker, but Kim was ready. He ripped a double to left-center—his third two-bagger of the season and his first in 11 games since April 20. That clutch hit raised Kim’s season average to .304 (17 hits in 56 at-bats), a testament to his ability to deliver even when the pressure’s on.
Unfortunately for the Dodgers, Kim’s double was as far as the rally would go. The next batter, Shohei Ohtani, who had been uncharacteristically quiet all afternoon, flied out to center field to end the game. Ohtani finished the day 0-for-5, and the Dodgers dropped their third straight contest, falling 2-7 to the Cardinals.
Both Lee and Kim have been bright spots for their respective clubs, even as team results have been hard to come by. Lee’s back-to-back games with a hit underscore his growing confidence at the plate and his ability to adjust to Major League pitching. According to local reports, "Lee Jung-hoo’s bat continues to provide a spark in the Giants’ lineup, even when the runs aren’t coming." His single off McClanahan, one of the American League’s toughest lefties, was a textbook example of his disciplined, contact-oriented approach.
Kim Hye-sung’s journey with the Dodgers has been equally compelling. Used primarily in a utility role, Kim has made the most of his opportunities, whether coming off the bench or filling in around the infield. His double in the ninth wasn’t just a meaningless hit in a lopsided game—it was a reminder of the depth and resilience he brings to the Dodgers’ roster. As one Dodgers insider put it, "Kim’s adaptability and timely hitting have been invaluable, especially during this stretch of tough losses."
For both teams, though, the larger story is about finding a way to halt their respective skids. The Giants, despite out-hitting their opponents, have struggled to string together hits when it matters most. Four straight losses have left them searching for answers, particularly with runners in scoring position. The Dodgers, meanwhile, are dealing with a rare offensive drought from their superstar Ohtani, whose 0-for-5 line against the Cardinals was emblematic of the team’s recent woes.
There’s also the matter of standings and playoff implications. The Giants’ place at the bottom of the NL West is a stark contrast to preseason expectations, especially after bolstering their lineup with Lee’s arrival. The Dodgers, perennial favorites in the division, are suddenly facing questions about depth and consistency as injuries and slumps pile up.
Still, individual performances like those of Lee and Kim offer hope. For fans tracking the progress of Korean players in MLB, these games are another chapter in an ongoing story of adaptation, perseverance, and growing influence. Both players have shown they can handle the pressure and pace of the big leagues, and their continued development will be key as the season unfolds.
As the Giants and Dodgers prepare for their next matchups, the spotlight remains on Lee Jung-hoo and Kim Hye-sung. Will their bats spark a turnaround for their struggling squads? Only time will tell, but one thing’s certain: with young stars like these, the future of Korean baseball in MLB looks brighter than ever.