Hyeseong Kim has been an exciting spark plug for the Los Angeles Dodgers since getting recalled on May 3, but his playing time has remained fairly limited and sporadic.
The original plan for Kim was to get a taste of the MLB level for a brief period, but the rookie forced his way into a permanent spot on the roster and it led to the Dodgers’ decision to release Chris Taylor. Kim is now starting in roughly three to four games per week, filling in mostly at second base and center field.
But all those starts have come against right-handers, and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has been hesitant to give Kim at-bats against left-handed pitching. That was apparent once again on Monday when Roberts pinch-hit for Kim with Kiké Hernández against Adrian Morejon despite it being early in the game.
Moreover, Kim already had a game-tying RBI double against southpaw Yuki Matsui.
“I think for me, Hyeseong is putting together really good at-bats versus left, versus right,” Roberts said. “I liked the Matsui at-bat because it’s not as much velocity, the ball down, spin.
“I just thought Morejon has got more velocity, and I just felt that was going to be a tougher at-bat for him. And giving Kiké an opportunity, he’s got to be better versus left. That’s just the way it is, and he knows that. I want to keep him involved as well.”
But after Kim doubled against Matsui, he is now 3-for-3 against left-handers this year, which includes a double and home run. Although Roberts has not given him many opportunities yet, there’s a possibility Kim could earn those if he continues to produce in his limited chances.
“Yeah, I think so,” Roberts said. “As long as he keeps taking good at-bats. He’s doing everything he needs to do.”
Kim was a fairly neutral hitter in South Korea, although he was still better against right-handers. But he has not shown in his career that he deserves to be platooned or can’t succeed if given the chances.
Overall this season, the 26-year-old is batting .410/.438/.590 with three doubles, one triple and two home runs across 61 at-bats while driving in 10 and scoring 20 runs. He’s also added six stolen bases without being caught stealing.
How can Hyeseong Kim get more playing time?
For the Dodgers to get Kim involved in the lineup more, the easiest path would be to decrease Michael Conforto’s playing time. Based on their production so far, that seems like an easy choice, but the Dodgers have maintained their faith that Conforto can turn his season around based on his career track record and some of the underlying metrics.
For the meantime, the Dodgers are also going to want Hernández and Miguel Rojas to continue getting at-bats and stay involved, which will also cut into Kim’s opportunities. That means there is likely going to be a somewhat rotating combination of those players on a nightly basis.
But when the Dodgers truly begin to optimize their roster in preparation for the postseason and into October, they are going to put their best nine on the field more often than not.
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