lee Jung-hoo vs. Kim Hye-sung: KBO Best Friends Meet in the MLB! Everything You Need to Know About the American Rivalry

What it means for a KBO best friends rivalry in the MLB

lee Jung-hoo (San Francisco Giants) and Kim Hye-sung (Los Angeles Dodgers), both born in 1998 and teammates in the KBO’s Growing Heroes, will finally face off on the American stage. the two players will enter the major leagues in 2024 and 2025, respectively, and will meet for the first time in a regular-season series during the National League West Division three-game set on June 14-16, 2025, at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. more than just a team rivalry, the game is symbolic for Korean baseball fans as it marks the first time the two stars will meet in the United States.

how the teams stack up

• the Dodgers (41-28) and Giants (40-29) are separated by one game for first and second place in the West, so the outcome of this three-game series could change the standings.
• the Giants are 7-3 in their last 10 games, which is better than the Dodgers (5-5), but the Giants have a tougher schedule with a series of away games and traveling.

jung-Hoo Lee and Hye-Sung Kim Recent Stats and Projections

• lee Jung-hoo (Giants): the leadoff hitter is batting .275 with six home runs, 41 runs scored, 32 RBI, six doubles, and a .776 OPS on the season. her power has been on the rise in June, with more long balls and walks.
• hye-Sung Kim (Dodgers): in her rookie season, Kim has been impressive on offense, defense, and base running. he could be out of the lineup against lefties, but with right-hander Logan Webb set to start Game 1 of the series, he’s likely to be in the lineup.

local and player reaction, outlook

both players say it’s “special to face each other on different teams” and that it’s more about old friendships and new experiences than competition. Local media outlets such as MLB.com are also highlighting the game, saying that “the first meeting between the two players from the KBO and MLB is very special.” the series is garnering a lot of attention from both the Korean and American baseball worlds, not only because of the competition for team standings, but also because it is the first official meeting between two best friends from the KBO. the Giants-Dodgers rivalry is expected to become even more interesting with the presence of Lee Jung-hoo and Kim Hye-sung.