Hyeseong Kim to Start 2025 Season in Triple-A, Won’t Travel With Dodgers to Japan
Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Hyeseong Kim will start the 2025 season in Triple-A, Dave Roberts told reporters Tuesday.
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Kim will not travel with the team to Japan, and will open the season in the minors as he works on his adjustment to major league pitching.
This is a move that many believed could happen as Kim made his transition to Major League Baseball.
Kim’s defense is undeniable given his four Gold Glove awards in the Korean Baseball Organization. However, the velocity difference between KBO and MLB is drastic, and Roberts cited it as a key hurdle to start the infielder’s North American career.
The skipper spoke earlier this month about what Kim’s necessary growth on the offensive side of things.
“I think he’s a ways away (from being a finished product as a major-league hitter),” Roberts said of Kim. “He’s doing a great job of competing. And I think there’s still a lot more in there, a lot of growth.”
A rough spring also didn’t help Kim’s case to leapfrog the minor league track.
In 29 at-bats, the infielder had six hits, one home run, and three RBIs, which was good for a batting average of .207. His two stolen bases and ability to get some reps in at center field weren’t enough to show he was ready for the Opening Day roster.
His growth in Triple-A should carry him through the beginning stages of his MLB career, but while Kim stays back in Arizona to work on his game, another spot opens up on the Opening Day roster for a team that has an excess of talent.
The hole that now exists on second base will presumably be filled by utility man and NLCS MVP Tommy Edman in his first full season with Los Angeles. Moving Edman off of center field will now require Andy Pages or James Outman to spend time in the outfield.
Pages appears to be the favorite to take that spot.
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Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
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