The Los Angeles Dodgers signed Hyeseong Kim to a three-year, $12.5 million deal in the offseason. He started in Triple-A, but now is playing a key role on a championship contender.
Kim slashed .252/.328/.470 in 28 minor league games. He was called up in the wake of injuries to Tommy Edman and Teoscar Hernández. He has the ability to play in the outfield and both middle infield spots. He also played some third base in Korea, so he could fill in if the Dodgers really needed him to. On Wednesday night, he hit his first career home run, a game-tying shot to right-center in the bottom of the fifth.
Kim is now slashing .360/.360/.480 in 11 games in Major League Baseball. He has made starts in center field and at second base. However, with Hernández and Edman returning soon, his spot on the team could be in jeopardy. Manager Dave Roberts announced the plans for Kim, leaving the option to keep him in the big leagues on the table.
“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 said of Kim after the game. “Once Tommy and Teo come back, there are some decisions to be made. But performance, and how he’s playing, certainly helps his case.”
Hernández will claim an everyday role in the outfield and Edman should take back over at second base. Kim is slowly playing himself into an everyday role, but he could take a spot on the bench when the Dodgers get Edman and Hernández back. He would be an upgrade over Chris Taylor and Miguel Rojas as a utility player.
Follow The Sporting News On WhatsApp
Taylor became the Dodgers’ longest tenured position player after the team designated Austin Barnes for assignment to call up top prospect Dalton Rushing. Kim’s best chance at becoming an everyday player is through the outfield. Michael Conforto could be running out of wiggle room in left field. He is hitting .175 with just two home runs.
More MLB: Yankees’ DJ LeMahieu offers 2-word response on position change
