Getting a couple of hits against one of the best teams in Major League Baseball (MLB) didn’t exactly inspire Song Sung-mun to start dreaming big Sunday.

The third baseman for the Kiwoom Heroes, though, is hoping he will be able to build on this feel-good performance as he gears up for the new season in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO).

Song went 2-for-3 with two RBIs in the Heroes’ 14-3 loss to the Dodgers in an exhibition game at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul. It was the first of two exhibitions scheduled for the Dodgers, who will later play the San Diego Padres in a two-game Seoul Series on Wednesday and Thursday.

“I felt really happy to start today, knowing I would get this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play against a major league team,” Song said. “I didn’t even know if I would play in this game. And then I picked up two hits. I am taking away a really good piece of memory.”

Song’s first hit in the third inning was also the Heroes’ first hit of the game.

“Even though it was just an exhibition g
ame, we hadn’t been on base once at that point,” Song said. “We’re getting close to the start of our own regular season here, and I wanted to take the same approach as I would in a regular season game against a good pitcher.”

Then with the Heroes down 13-1, Song hit a two-run double off reliever Evan Phillips. The deep fly struck the center field wall, and it would have been a home run at 12 MLB stadiums.

“When I first hit it, I saw the center fielder take an easy stroll toward the wall, and so I thought he was going to catch it,” Song said. “I haven’t hit that many home runs to center in the KBO. I was pretty happy with that double.”

Song quipped that he was disappointed he didn’t get to field any groundballs at third, but he enjoyed simply sharing the field with the Dodgers.

“I had really high expectations of this game, and I could see how these guys were on a different level,” Song said. “I learned just by standing on the same ground as those players. I will never forget this day for the rest of my lif
e.”

Asked if playing the Dodgers fueled his dreams of playing in MLB one day, Song smiled and said, “I don’t have any big dreams. I think I have to play better in Korea first.”

“I think I can walk away from this game feeling more confident in my game,” Song continued. “I think it’s going to help me a great deal this season.”

Source: Yonhap News Agency