The Los Angeles Dodgers return home from their road trip with a 9-3 record. Mookie Betts landed on the 10-day injured list with an oblique injury suffered against the Nationals. The absence left a hole in the infield that needed filling immediately.
The Dodgers turned to Hyeseong Kim. The Korean infielder was getting ready for a minor league game when the phone rang. Within hours, he was on his way to the big league club.
Three games in, Kim has made the most of the opportunity. Manager Dave Roberts has noticed a significant change from the player he sent down during spring training.
What Kim Has Shown
Kim wanted to make the Opening Day roster. He opened the spring with a hot bat, but a slump following the World Baseball Classic changed the picture. His timing at the plate had deteriorated, and the Dodgers made the decision to send him to Triple-A.
Roberts was direct about the reasoning at the time, saying the organization needed to see mechanical improvements before trusting him in the lineup. The belief in Kim’s talent was not in question. The state of his swing was.
Kim went to Oklahoma City and got to work. Now, with nine plate appearances in the Majors, he is slashing .429/.556/.571 with two walks, two strikeouts, and three hits, including a double that left his bat with authority.
“For me, it looks good,” Roberts said. “I think he’s into the ground much better. I think the swing decisions are better mechanically. It looks great.”
The player who looked out of rhythm six weeks ago now looks settled in the box and confident in his approach.
GettyHyeseong Kim of the Los Angeles Dodgers. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
The Defense Has Been Just as Impressive
Kim has not limited his impact to the batter’s box. He has made multiple defensive highlights across his first three games, flashing the kind of range and arm strength that originally drew the organization to him.
With Betts on the injured list and Rojas handling the bulk of the shortstop duties, Kim’s defensive reliability adds depth to a roster navigating one of its first significant injuries of the season. Whether he stays past Betts’ return depends on how the next week unfolds, but the early impression has been strong on both sides of the ball.
GettyHyeseong Kim of the Los Angeles Dodgers. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
What Comes Next for the Dodgers
Los Angeles begins a homestand Friday night with Tyler Glasnow starting the opener against Texas. A series against the New York Mets follows. Kim figures to see continued playing time as long as Betts remains sidelined.
The path to a permanent roster spot runs through stretches exactly like this one. Kim knows the organization believes in him. Roberts said as much during spring training, even as he explained why the timing was not right. The timing is right now, and Kim is showing that the work he put in at Triple-A was not wasted.
Final Word for the Dodgers
Kim did not pout when he was sent down. He went and came back looking like a different hitter.
The audition is short. Betts will return. But the impression Kim leaves over the next week could determine whether he has a role on this roster for the rest of the season.
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