The Los Angeles Dodgers added to their infield depth when they signed Hyeseong Kim to a three-year, $12.5 million contract earlier this month.
In a corresponding move, the Dodgers designated former top prospect Diego Cartaya for assignment in order to make room on their 40-man roster for Kim. L.A. subsequently traded Cartaya to the Minnesota Twins for Jose Vasquez.
Then, Kim’s path to carving out a distinct role for himself with the Dodgers in 2025 became much more clear when Gavin Lux was traded to the Cincinnati Reds.
However, Kim will have to earn his keep as his contract does not include a clause that would allow him to reject being optioned to the Minor Leagues.
Although the competition for playing time is less intense than initially expected had Lux remained the roster, Kim is still eager to prove himself with the Dodgers.
Kim believed he would have to earn playing time no matter which team he signed with and figured he might as well do it with the Dodgers, according to Yoo Jee-ho of Yonhap News Agency:
“It’s not as though I won’t have competition on a different team. Since this is my first year, I thought I would have to battle for my playing time no matter where I ended up,” he said. “Ultimately, I decided I’d try to do that on the Dodgers.”
Kim decided to make the leap to MLB after spending eight seasons in the Korean Baseball League, most of which came with the Kiwoom Heroes. Defense is Kim’s greatest strength as he won the KBO equivalent of a Gold Glove in each of the past three seasons at second base, and earned another at shortstop in 2021.
He had his best offensive season as a professional in 2024, slashing .326/.383/.458 with a career–high 11 home runs and 75 RBI. Kim has shown the ability to hit for average and get on base at a high clip in the KBO, incrementally improving in both areas season over season.
Hyeseong Kim’s ‘immediate goal’
Kim has the opportunity to become the everyday second baseman in 2025 and beyond if he is able to perform well, but for now his main focus is on making the Dodgers’ Opening Day roster for the Tokyo Series in Japan.
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