The Los Angeles Dodgers signed Kim Hyeseong to a three-year, $12.5 million deal in the offseason. After eight seasons in the KBO, he finally got his chance at playing Major League Baseball.
Kim did not have the start he had hoped for in MLB. He hit .207 in spring training and was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Kim’s bat needed some work, but eventually he started producing at the Triple-A level. He slashed .252/.328/.470 in 28 games and hit five home runs. An injury to Tommy Edman led to the Dodgers calling him up.
Since getting called up, Kim has proved he can play at the MLB level after years of success in South Korea. In 11 games in the big leagues, he is slashing .360/.360/.480. He also delivered his first big league home run on Wednesday night. He hit a 385-foot home run to tie the game in the bottom of the fifth inning. Kim’s speed has also been on full display. He’s stolen two bases already and is in the 88th percentile for sprint speed, according to Baseball Savant.
Despite Kim’s great play, the Dodgers’ star-studded roster may not have room for him. Kim has made starts in the outfield and at second base so far. However, Edman will return soon and claim second base, while Hernández will return to his everyday role in the outfield.
Manager Dave Roberts has stuck with Michael Conforto despite his poor offense, but his spot is the most likely one Kim could take. However, the left fielder signed a $17 million deal with the Dodgers in free agency and seems to have a pretty long leash. Even if Kim is not going to be an everyday player, he has certainly given the team a decision to make when Edman and Hernández return.
“I think that we wanted to get him here to cut his teeth, get his feet wet and see what the big leagues are about, get familiar,” Roberts told reporters of Kim. “Once Tommy and Teo come back, there are some decisions to be made. But performance, and how he’s playing, certainly helps his case.”
Right now, it’s tough to argue that Kim, Hernández and Andy Pages would not be a better trio in the outfield than if Conforto were in his place. As Kim continues to get at-bats, it may be tougher to justify keeping him out of the lineup.
Right now, if Kim stays in the big leagues, it will likely be in a utility role. However, his versatility on defense gives him many paths to playing time should injuries happen.
Beyond the season, Kim’s success in the big leagues is great news for Korea ahead of the World Baseball Classic. He logged just two at-bats in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. However, next year he should be one of the best players on the team.
Since 2023, he has 24 home runs, 154 RBIs, 70 stolen bases, and 221 hits across all levels of play.
Photo: Dodgers rookie infielder Hyeseong Kim prepares for his MLB debut in the 2025 World Tour Tokyo Series. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
