Dave Roberts suggests that the Los Angeles Dodgers are close to landing baseball infielder from Korea after Japanese Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
Second baseman Hye-Seong Kim made a notable impression during an exhibition game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday, attracting attention a year ahead of his entry into MLB free agency.
Despite the Los Angeles Dodgers winning their final exhibition game before the regular season opener, Kim, playing for Team Korea, stood out by leading off in the lineup and starting at second base. He achieved a 1-for-3 record, including a double off Dodgers’ starting pitcher Bobby Miller in the third inning, hitting a 96 mile-per-hour fastball that struck the right field wall.
Kim’s KBO team, the Kiwoom Heroes, announced in January their intention to post the infielder for MLB free agency next season. His success against MLB pitching, like Miller, demonstrated why he should be a target for major league teams next winter.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts’ post-game comments further highlighted Kim’s impact, with Roberts noting that the team’s scouts are impressed with Kim’s performance, referring to him as “their second baseman,” as reported by MLB Network’s Jon Morosi.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have a track record of signing significant international free agents, most recently securing Japanese stars Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto in December. They also signed left-handed pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu to a then-record contract when he transitioned from the KBO to MLB in 2012. Hye-Seong Kim, currently 25 years old but turning 26 before the 2025 season, is poised to be their next potential international acquisition.
Kim had a standout season in 2023, batting a career-best .335 with seven home runs, 57 RBIs, 25 stolen bases, and an .842 OPS. Since his debut in the KBO in 2017, Kim has maintained a .300 batting average. On average per 162 games, he records 172 hits, five home runs, 61 RBIs, and 35 stolen bases.
Kim also has international experience, representing Team Korea at the COVID-delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where he had 13 at-bats with eight singles, one stolen base, one RBI, and one strikeout. In the 2023 World Baseball Classic, Kim contributed significantly, going 1-for-2 with three walks, three runs, three RBIs, and one strikeout.
Known for his defensive prowess, Kim has made KBO history, winning one Gold Glove as a shortstop and two as a second baseman. He played shortstop for the Kiwoom Heroes alongside Ha-Seong Kim, who would later join the San Diego Padres. Interestingly, Ha-Seong Kim and the Padres are scheduled to face off against the Dodgers in the two-game Seoul Series starting Wednesday.
Hye-Seong Kim’s performance in the exhibition game against the Dodgers and his impressive track record in the KBO make him a prime candidate for MLB teams, with the Dodgers potentially showing interest in adding him to their roster next season.
