The Los Angeles Dodgers are unsure of which position newly acquired Hyeseong Kim will start this season, according to Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times. Dodgers General Manager Brandon Gomes and skipper Dave Roberts are keeping their options open at this point. However, Roberts did say that starting the year in the minor leagues “was a possibility.” This is the first time the Los Angeles brass have openly discussed the possibility of the Korean star not making the Opening Day roster.
Dave Roberts left open the possibility of Hyeseong Kim starting the season in the minors, as he continues to make swing adjustments coming over from Korea
GM Brandon Gomes has also been non-committal about where Kim will begin the season
Still a lot of time left in camp before…
— Jack Harris (@ByJackHarris) February 25, 2025
Dodgers Trying to Figure Out Hyeseong Kim’s Position
Defense Isn’t the Problem
In January, the Dodgers signed Kim out of the Korean Baseball Organization to a three-year contract, with an option for two more years. Kim is primarily a second baseman. In order to make room for him, Los Angeles traded their former top prospect Gavin Lux to the Cincinnati Reds. Kim is known for his sparkling infield defense. However, the Dodgers place a high value on versatility on their roster, so the infielder has been taking some reps at shortstop as well as the outfield. Kim is expected to get the most playing time this spring in center field, a position where he has no prior experience.
A Work in Progress
The 26-year-old rookie has been working on his swing as he anticipates facing major-league pitching. Kim is not known for his offensive prowess. As a result, helping him with his batting mechanics has been a major emphasis for the Dodgers in spring training. If he doesn’t make the major league roster on Opening Day, the stint in the minors will allow him time for further offensive development.
Just in Case…
Los Angeles is preparing for whatever happens. Tommy Edman, who was originally slated to be in center field, has been taking reps at second base. Kiké Hernandez and Chris Taylor can also be plugged in where needed as well.
For now, the Dodgers have time to move the pieces around. The question is, will Kim be one of those pieces when the calendar turns to March 18th?
Photo Credit: © Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
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