Dodgers Team News

Hyeseong Kim Wants to Make Dodgers 2025 Opening Day Roster

The Los Angeles Dodgers strengthened their infield when they signed Korean free agent Hyeseong Kim to a three-year, $12.5 million contract. The deal also has an option for 2028-29 that could increase the value of the contract to $22 million.

The Dodgers are also counting on him to be a difference maker and sent Gavin Lux to the Cincinnati Reds shortly after.

Kim mentioned in an interview with the Yonhap News Agency that the Dodgers were the first team to reach out and now, he has one goal in mind – to make the Opening Day roster.

“The Dodgers are a great team, and I grew up watching them play quite a bit because of Korean players there,” Kim told reporters at Incheon International Airport. “It will be an honor to make my major league debut with the club I watched on television. I want to make it happen as quickly as I can. My immediate goal is to make the Opening Day roster.”

More news: Dodgers Still Plan to Play Mookie Betts at Shortstop Following Latest Moves

With Lux now in Cincinnati, Kim’s competition for the starting second base job only includes Chris Taylor and Miguel Rojas. Tommy Edman is expected to play more centerfield in 2025 than he did in 2024 and Mookie Betts is returning to shortstop.

The infield depth doesn’t scare Kim.

“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 is a four-time recipient of the KBO Golden Glove Award, which recognizes the top player at each position in the league. He earned the award at second base in the past three seasons after securing it at shortstop in 2021.

Kim posted a .304 batting average and a .364 on-base percentage over his eight seasons with the Heroes. He also stole 20 or more bases in each of the past seven years, peaking at 46 steals in 2021. A left-handed hitter, Kim finished the 2024 season with a .326/.383/.458 slash line, 11 home runs, and 30 steals for Kiwoom.

More news: Dodgers Still Plan to Play Mookie Betts at Shortstop Following Latest Moves

Photo Credit: Yukihito Taguchi-USA TODAY Sports

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Maren Angus

Maren Angus-Coombs was born in Los Angeles and raised in Nashville, Tenn. She is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University and has been a sports writer since 2008. Despite being raised in the South, her sports obsession has always been in Los Angeles. She is currently a staff writer for Dodgers Nation and the LA Sports Report Network.

One Comment

  1. At the end of 2025, let us see who was the better player, Kim or Lux. I would bet on Lux. Put Edmon at SS, Betts at 2B (don’t wear him down) and a certain power hitting, gold glove winning centerfielder, Luis Robert, Jr., in CF. Murakami at 3B in 2026. Freeman’s contract and Teoscar’s contract are up entering 2028. Glasnow’s contract and Tanner Scott’s contract are up entering 2029. Snell’s contract and Edmon’s contract are up entering 2030. Everyone else of significance is signed for even longer periods (Betts, Ohtani, Yamamoto, Will Smith, Sasaki signed or under control far, far into the future). This is a lot of roster stability for the very long term, probably more so than any other MLB team, maybe ever. Conforto, Muncy [club option $10 million for 2026, cheap price], Kershaw, Gonsolin, May and Brazier are the only ones of any significance in the last year of a contract in 2025. Vesia, Phillips, Kopech are still in arbitration years and Treinen has 2 yeas to go. There are five Dodger prospects in the top 100 for 2025: Zyhir Hope should be in CF one day (2028). Josue de Paula should be at 1B one day (2028). Rushing, a left hand hitter, should be platooning with Smith even in 2025. Smith starts too many games. Alex Freeland should be at SS in 2026 (Betts at 2B, save the wear and tear). Jackson Ferris — where will there be room for him and several other young starting pitchers in 2027?? Those 5 prospects will get paid at the league minimum once they are up, easing some of the salary pressure. The 6th and 7th spots in the rotation will be paid at the league minimum for a while after 2025. There is enough talent in the organization for 2 better than average MLB teams. Really. LF, CF, 3B might need some attention for 2026, otherwise the team is set for years to come. Almost completely the same team or players already in the organization 2025 through 2030 at least. But is the payroll too high? Will ticket prices start at $150? Will parking be $50? Beer at $25? Will the next CBA punish high spending teams more so than the current CBA does? If so, well, the Dodgers are set, talent-wise, for many, many years to come, anyway. They will be trading away excellent AAA talent for younger prospects, like they did with Michael Bush, for the next several years. “Hey, here are some very talented AAA players ready to start in your line up or rotation who we have no room for, give us your best talent at high A in trade.”

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