The Los Angeles Dodgers are reaching into their Triple-A pipeline for a fresh injection of athleticism, officially calling up 26-year-old South Korean utilityman Hyeseong Kim for his Major League debut. The move caps off a months-long process that began when Kim signed a three-year, $12.5 million deal with L.A. in January, turning down other offers from the Angels and Mariners to join a team he openly calls âthe best in the league.â
âEven if I chose any other teams, it wouldâve been a challenge,â Kim said during spring training, via interpreter Dean Kim. âBut if I wanted to go against a challenge, I wanted to do it with the best team in the league.â
That challenge included more than just adapting to American culture or MLB travel. The Dodgers asked Kim to essentially rewire his swing. Gone was the big leg kick that helped him hit .326 with 11 homers and 75 RBIs last season for the Kiwoom Heroes. In came a quieter load, revamped timing cues, and a crash course in handling upper-90s fastballs.
It wasnât just about making Kim playableâit was about making him viable. âHe has the ingredients to be great,â Dodgers hitting coach Aaron Bates said earlier this spring. âItâs just kind of fine-tuning things.â
That fine-tuning started in Oklahoma City. Kim hit .257 with a .801 OPS, five homers, and 13 stolen bases in 127 plate appearances, while showcasing his versatility at shortstop, second base, and center field. The Dodgers clearly werenât just stashing himâthey were grooming him.
Dodgers Test Kimâs Readiness as Edman Nurses Injury
Whether Kim is immediately inserted into the starting lineup or used in a bench role remains to be seen. But the timing of his call-up is no coincidence. Tommy Edman, whoâs started 22 of L.A.âs first 31 games at second base, is nursing a tendon injury in his right ankle and hasnât played since Tuesday.
If Edman canât go, Kim might get his first MLB start sooner than expected. The Dodgers had originally envisioned Kim as the strong side of a platoon at second base, but with Edman temporarily sidelined, the window is open.
Still, this isnât a panic moveâitâs the continuation of a long-term plan. Kimâs transition was never going to be seamless. His 24.4 percent strikeout rate at Triple-A shows just how steep the learning curve can be for even elite hitters making the jump from the KBO, where he struck out just 10.9 percent of the time last year.
But the Dodgers arenât asking for perfection out of the gate. Theyâre asking for growth, and if that athleticism starts translating into production, L.A. might have another versatile weapon on its hands.
As Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic writes, âThe Dodgers have long raved about Kimâs athleticism. Now, itâs about making the bat play well enough to make the rest of his skill set effective.â
Kim has already shown he can handle the challenge. Now, heâll try to prove he was worth betting onâfor himself and for the Dodgers.
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