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Dodgers rookie Hyeseong Kim
Little surprise that, here at the midpoint of the 2025 season, the Dodgers are featuring an Asian import who is excelling as a rookie. What is a surprise, though, is which Asian import it is–not touted fireballer Roki Sasaki, but rather, former Korean star Hyeseong Kim.
Back in January, Kim signed on with the Dodgers for the relatively cost-effective price of three years and $12.5 million. There is a two-year club option that could add another $5 million per year to the deal.
Kim signed as a versatile defensive piece who batted .304 with a .364 on-base percentage in eight years with Kiwoom Heroes organization in Korea. over eight seasons. He’s fast, too, notching at least 25 steals in each of the past four years, and stole 30 bases in 2024. He hit .326 last year with an OPS of .840, and hit .335 with an .842 OPS in 2023.
But the Dodgers were clearly unsure of Kim’s spot with the team, especially with utilityman Tommy Edman on board. Through the first half of the season, though, Kim is showing himself to be more valuable than expected.
Dodgers Called up Kim in May
Kim played 28 games with Triple-A Oklahoma City to start the year. He has been in Los Angeles since early May, and has found ways to get into the lineup–jumping from second base to center field to shortstop.
He has been a better hitter than expected, batting .378 with a .418 OBP and a .541 slugging percentage. He’s also stolen six bases without being caught. And that has many calling for Kim, who’s 26, to be in the lineup more often. Manager Dave Roberts has a hard time disagreeing.
“Hyeseong is doing a fantastic job,” he said. “He’s a little bit older, I think. He played professionally in the KBO. … He has performed and handled this, kind of, playing two, three times a week. I do think in a meritocracy, in that vein, Hyeseong has earned opportunities. I don’t want him to lose his mojo and get him to sit for four or five or six days, and expect good at-bats.
“He’s earning the opportunity to get somewhat of a consistent look. We’ll go from there.”
Kim played center field in place of Michael Conforto (Andy Pages moved to left) on Tuesday and Wednesday, and pinch hit on Friday.
Sean Deveney is a veteran sports reporter covering the NBA, NFL and MLB for Heavy.com. He has written for Heavy since 2019 and has more than two decades of experience covering the NBA, including 17 years as the lead NBA reporter for the Sporting News. Deveney is the author of 7 nonfiction books, including “Fun City,” “Before Wrigley became Wrigley,” and “Facing Michael Jordan.” More about Sean Deveney
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