The Los Angeles Dodgers will have plenty of roster decisions to make as the regular season draws near, including who will join Miguel Rojas at second base to start the season.
Tommy Edman’s recovery from an offseason debridement procedure on his right ankle has opened the door for Alex Freeland and Hyeseong Kim to earn consistent playing time.
Both players have had high points this spring, but they have also missed opportunities. How they perform down the stretch will affect where they each start the season, according to Fabian Ardaya of the Athletic:
“As we’ve put together this roster, those two guys were two guys that we were really thinking about. Makes sense, being left-handed and for our roster,” Roberts said.
Each of them have their own unique strengths relative to the other. Kim brings explosiveness that elevates all other aspects of his game and has outfield versatility. On the other hand, Freeland’s strengths are plate discipline, knowledge of the zone and a swing that produces a lot of contact.
Kim left Dodgers camp after four games to participate in the World Baseball Classic, but was the clear leader when leaving. The 27-year-old had six hits in 13 at-bats, including a home run. He did not have the same results in the WBC, with just one hit in 12 at-bats.
Kim has rebounded slightly since returning from the WBC, with two hits in six at-bats.
Meanwhile, Freeland has not been able to gain much ground, as his quality of contact has not been as consistent as it was early on.
While neither has been perfect, both have skill sets that can help the Dodgers win games in 2026. Kim still figures to be the favorite to open the season on the Dodgers roster, however, given his added versatility and ability to be a pinch runner off the bench.
Dave Roberts high on Alex Freeland’s at-bat quality
While the hits have yet to materialize for Freeland, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has been pleased with the 24-year-old’s process at the plate and the attitude he brings to the facility each day.
Freeland is among the league leaders for walks this spring and has largely avoided swinging at pitches outside of the zone.
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