Los Angeles Dodgers utility man Hyeseong Kim is eagerly anticipating a face-off against his Japanese teammates, Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, when Team Korea takes on Team Japan in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Both teams are set to clash in Pool C, guaranteeing at least one matchup before the tournament concludes.
Kim expressed his excitement, saying, “I’m definitely looking forward to it. I haven’t played much against Team Japan with Team Korea, so I want to make sure I get to play against them this WBC.
I just want to prepare the right way. It’s an important game.”
In their last World Baseball Classic encounter in 2023, Team Japan secured a commanding 13-4 victory, eventually claiming their third WBC championship. The upcoming showdown is scheduled for March 7.
Hyeseong Kim's Role on Team Korea
While Kim might not be the standout player on Team Korea, he is among the select few major leaguers on the roster for the upcoming WBC. After debuting with the Dodgers in 2025, Kim played 71 games during their championship season.
He made a striking impression in his first month, boasting a batting average over .400 and an OPS exceeding 1.000. However, limited playing time led to a gradual decline in his stats.
The 27-year-old wrapped up the season with a .280 batting average and a .699 OPS, along with three homers and 17 RBIs. Despite the dip, he seems to have caught the eye of Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who mentioned Kim as a contender for the starting second baseman spot in Tommy Edman's absence.
“I think Hyeseong’s in the mix,” Roberts noted. “We’ve got [Santiago] Espinal, obviously Miggy Ro is going to do some things over there, Freeland certainly in the mix, so we’ve got some nice options.”
Team Korea's MLB Talent
Joining Kim on Team Korea are five other MLB players, with San Francisco Giants’ Jung Hoo Lee being one of the standout names. The roster also includes Korean-American players Dane Dunning, Riley O’Brien, Shay Whitcomb, and Jahmai Jones. Additionally, former Dodger Hyun Jin Ryu, who last played in MLB in 2023, adds notable experience to the team.
Team Korea is gearing up for a competitive tournament, and with talents like Kim and his MLB peers, they’re looking to make a significant impact on the international stage.