Kim Hye-seong was included on the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 26-man roster for the 2026 MLB postseason but did not play in Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the Atlanta Braves. The Dodgers beat Atlanta 5-3 at Dodger Stadium on October 4, 2026.

Background and context

In the game, Dodgers starter Tarik Skubal pitched well, allowing one run on two hits over six innings, while Teoscar Hernández, Kyle Tucker and Max Muncy hit home runs in succession. Kim was on the roster but was not brought in as a pinch hitter or pinch runner. So the key point in this Game 1 was not what Kim did on the field, but that he was included on the postseason roster and is waiting for an opportunity to play.

Kim appeared in 43 major-league games this season, batting .259 with one home run, 11 RBIs and five stolen bases, before being sent down to Triple-A at the end of May. With Triple-A Oklahoma City, he batted .262 with three home runs, 31 RBIs, 15 stolen bases and a .675 OPS. OPS is a statistic that combines on-base percentage and slugging percentage. Regular-season numbers alone do not determine whether a player will appear in the postseason, and the role described for Kim in the article is as a late-inning pinch runner and infield defender.

What this news means

Making the postseason roster and actually playing in a game are separate steps. Kim’s inclusion can be seen as giving the Dodgers another option for baserunning and infield defense late in games. However, that role may not have been needed in Game 1, or the team may have made a different choice; the article does not specify why he was not used.

If Kim gets a brief opportunity to play, his potential to help the team with his baserunning or defense will be worth watching. That does not mean he is certain to appear in subsequent games. The Dodgers are seeking a third consecutive World Series title, but player usage may vary depending on how each game unfolds as the series continues.

For example, if the Dodgers need a baserunner late in the next game, Kim could be considered for a pinch-running role. This is only a hypothetical based on the role described in the article; neither his actual appearance nor the circumstances in which he might enter the game have been confirmed.

Confirmed facts and what remains unknown

Confirmed facts

  • Kim Hye-seong was included on the Dodgers’ 26-man roster for the 2026 postseason and did not play in Game 1 of the Division Series.
  • The Dodgers beat Atlanta 5-3 on October 4, 2026, to take an early 1-0 lead in the best-of-five series.
  • Tarik Skubal allowed two hits and one run over six innings, and Hernández, Tucker and Muncy hit home runs in succession.
  • The article describes Kim’s role as a late-inning pinch runner and infield defender.
  • Atlanta’s Kim Ha-seong started and went 0-for-1 with one walk before being replaced by a pinch hitter in the eighth inning.

What remains unknown

  • It has not been confirmed whether Kim Hye-seong will play in Game 2 of the Division Series or any subsequent game.
  • The final result of the Division Series between the Dodgers and Atlanta is not yet known.
  • The article does not say which role—pinch runner or infield defender—Kim would take on if he plays, or in what situation he might enter the game.

What readers should watch for

  • In the next game, it will be worth watching not only whether Kim starts but also whether he enters late as a pinch hitter, pinch runner or defensive replacement.
  • Roster inclusion should be distinguished from actually appearing in a game. Kim was on the roster for Game 1 but did not play.
  • The Dodgers have taken an early 1-0 lead in the series, so the results of subsequent games and Kim’s use should be checked separately. The available evidence does not support predicting whether he will play or whether his team will win the series.