Los Angeles Dodgers utility player Hyeseong Kim is stepping away from spring training to represent South Korea in the World Baseball Classic (WBC). It's a decision that's both an honor and a strategic gamble for Kim, who's in the thick of a competition for the starting second base position against Alex Freeland and Santiago Espinal.
Manager Dave Roberts acknowledges the significance of Kim's choice, stating, “Yeah, he’s going to play for his country, which is a great thing. He’s going to play second base.”
Roberts is clear about Kim's defensive prowess but notes the challenge of evaluating him while he's away. “It’s more helpful for him to be around us to evaluate him each day.
We’re not going to get that opportunity, but yeah, we’ll be watching and kind of see how the spring plays out for him.”
Kim's rookie season in 2025 saw him post a 1.7 bWAR, with a .280/.314/.385 slash line and a 95 OPS+. He started strong, going on a contact tear early in the season, which demonstrated his potential at the major league level. The key for Kim now is to leverage his WBC performance to secure the starting role, especially in light of Tommy Edman’s injury.
As Kim competes on the international stage, the Dodgers will be keeping a close eye on his progress, eager to see if his time with the Korean team translates into a breakout performance back home.