Kim went 2-for-4 with a stolen base in a loss to the Cardinals on Saturday.
Kim got the start in center field and continued to make a strong impression with his bat, collecting his third multi-hit effort across his past four starts. The rookie has gone 8-for-15 with a homer, two RBI and two stolen bases during that span but continues to play sporadically -- he didn't start in any of Los Angeles' three games prior to Saturday. Kim has started at three different positions (center, second base and shortstop) this season as manager Dave Roberts looks to find room for him on a talented roster. Kim has done all he can to make a case for playing time, slashing .411/.441/.554 with two home runs, seven RBI, 13 runs and six stolen bases (in six attempts) across 25 games.
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Dodgers' Hyeseong Kim: Collects four hits, including homer
Rotowire
Kim went 4-for-4 with a home run, a double, a walk, three total runs and two total RBI against the Yankees in an 18-2 victory Saturday.
Kim got the start at shortstop with Mookie Betts (toe) sitting out a second straight day, though Kim shifted to center field later in the contest. The rookie reached base all five times he came to the plate, and he bashed his second big-league homer with a 412-foot, two-run blast in the second inning. Kim's opportunities have been sporadic -- Saturday's start marked just his second across the Dodgers' past nine contests -- but he's been impressive when in the lineup, slashing .422/.458/.600 with four extra-base hits, 13 runs, seven RBI and four stolen bases through 48 plate appearances.
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Dodgers' Hyeseong Kim: Expected to see semi-regular starts
Rotowire
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts estimated that Kim will make around 3.5 starts per week while the team looks to build in routine days off for Tommy Edman, Teoscar Hernandez and Michael Conforto, Matthew Moreno of DodgerBlue.com reports.
Edman and Hernandez both recently returned from the injured list, while Conforto has stayed healthy but has produced a .577 OPS on the season and should at the very least find himself on the bench against left-handed pitching on a more frequent basis. Roberts' comments imply that Kim will serve as a part-time starter, with Andy Pages and the aforementioned three players also likely to see slight drops in playing time due to the logjam in both the infield and the outfield. The 26-year-old Kim has certainly earned a steady role based on how he's performed since being called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City on May 3; through his first 14 games with Los Angeles, he's slashing .452/.485/.581 with a home run and three stolen bases.
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Dodgers' Hyeseong Kim: On base five times in win
Rotowire
Kim went 3-for-3 with a double, two walks, two RBI, one stolen base and four runs scored in Thursday's 19-2 win over the Athletics.
From the No. 9 hole, Kim was able to have another strong performance, earning his first three-hit game in the majors. He also drew his first two walks in the contest. Kim is now batting .429 with a home run, five RBI, nine runs scored and three steals across 30 plate appearances to begin his big-league career. He's seeing time at second base and in center field against right-handed pitchers, though he could soon take on a reduced role with Tommy Edman (ankle) nearing his return from the IL.
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Dodgers' Hyeseong Kim: Swats first career homer
Rotowire
Kim went 2-for-2 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 9-3 win over the Athletics.
Kim's first major-league long ball was a 385-foot solo shot in the fifth inning that tied the score. Since he was called up from the minors May 3, the rookie infielder has recorded three multi-hit games and is batting a robust .360 (9-for-25). The homer Wednesday was Kim's first extra-base hit, but he's also contributed a pair of stolen bases, five runs and three RBI.
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Dodgers' Hyeseong Kim: Not in Tuesday's lineup
Rotowire
Kim is not in the Dodgers' starting lineup against the Athletics on Tuesday, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.
With Kim beginning Tuesday's contest on the bench, Miguel Rojas will start at second base and bat eighth against Athletics southpaw Jeffrey Springs. Kim was recalled by the Dodgers on May 3 after Tommy Edman (ankle) was placed on the 10-day IL, and Kim has gone 7-for-22 with two stolen bases, four runs scored and two RBI in nine major-league games.
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Dodgers' Hyeseong Kim: Two hits in win
Rotowire
Kim went 2-for-4 with an RBI, one run scored and a stolen base in Monday's win over Miami.
Kim made his first career MLB start Monday after appearing as a pinch runner and swiping a bag Sunday against Atlanta. He singled and stole second base in the fifth inning before coming around to score on Shohei Ohtani's home run. Kim posted a .798 OPS with 14 extra-base hits and 13 steals in 13 attempts across 28 games with Triple-A Oklahoma City before his promotion.
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Dodgers' Hyeseong Kim: Swipes first big-league bag
Rotowire
Kim stole a base as a pinch runner in Sunday's 4-3 loss to Atlanta.
Kim hasn't received a major-league plate appearance yet after being called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Saturday -- he appeared as a defensive replacement in the ninth inning in his first major-league contest and pinch ran Sunday. The 26-year-old impressed with his speed against Atlanta, easily swiping second base after pinch running in the ninth frame for Andy Pages and later moving to third on a throw to first base by the catcher following a strikeout. However, Raisel Iglesias struck out the side to prevent Kim from crossing the plate. Per Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts plans to have Kim primarily come off the bench until Tommy Edman (ankle) returns from the injured list, though Kim might get a few starts along the way.
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Dodgers' Hyeseong Kim: Officially recalled
Rotowire
The Dodgers recalled Kim from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Saturday.
News of this move first circulated early Saturday, and it came to fruition with Tommy Edman (ankle) landing on the injured list. Kim isn't in the starting lineup for Saturday's matchup against Atlanta, as Chris Taylor is getting the start as Edman's replacement at second base. However, it wouldn't be surprising if Kim gets regular opportunities against right-handed pitchers while Edman is on the shelf.
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Dodgers' Hyeseong Kim: Joining Dodgers
Rotowire
The Dodgers plan to recall Kim from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Saturday, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.
After signing a three-year deal with the Dodgers in the offseason, Kim was sent to Triple-A at the beginning of the year to work on his swing. Through 129 plate appearances, the 26-year-old has slashed .252/.328/.470 with five homers, 19 RBI and 22 runs scored while swiping 13 bags in 28 games. A corresponding move for Kim's promotion hasn't been announced yet, though it may signal a move to the injured list for Tommy Edman (ankle).
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Dodgers' Hyeseong Kim: Thriving in minors
Rotowire
Through 65 plate appearances with Triple-A Oklahoma City, Kim is slashing .293/.359/.603 with three home runs, seven doubles, a triple, 16 runs, 13 RBI and four stolen bases.
After signing Kim to a three-year, $12.5 million contract in early January, the Dodgers opted to have the Korean infielder begin his professional career in the minors. Kim has taken the assignment in stride, as he's collected at least one hit in 11 of his 14 contests with OKC so far. Kim isn't projected to be much of a power hitter in the majors, but he's defied that expectation of late, smashing three home runs -- including a 462-footer -- over his past three games. There was always a strong likelihood that Kim would see the majors this season, and his time could come relatively soon if he continues to succeed against minor-league pitching.
The Dodgers optioned Kim to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Tuesday.
Kim began spring training with a chance to win a spot in the Dodgers' infield unit. However, he slashed just .207/.303/.310 across 33 plate appearances during Cactus League play, so the team will send him to Triple-A to continue developing. The 26-year-old was a career .304 hitter during his eight seasons in Korea, so there's still plenty of reason to believe he'll contribute for the big-league club eventually.
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Dodgers' Hyeseong Kim: Homers in spring game Saturday
Rotowire
Kim went 1-for-2 with a solo home run, a walk and three total runs scored in Saturday's Cactus League win over the Giants.
Kim had been struggling mightily entering Saturday, collecting just one hit -- an infield single -- through 14 at-bats. However, he turned things around a bit against San Francisco with a solo home run to left field in the fifth inning. The Dodgers have been working with Kim to revamp his swing in order to try to unlock more power, which is likely at least partially responsible for his early-spring struggles. It's possible that the 25-year-old will begin the season in the minors to provide more time and less pressure for him to work on his swing mechanics.
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Dodgers' Hyeseong Kim: Getting used to revamped swing
Rotowire
The Dodgers have "completely revamped" Kim's swing this spring, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports, with Kim saying the swing is "20, 30 percent to where I want it to be."
The Dodgers want to emphasize Kim's superb contact ability but also believe he has more power to tap into than he showed during his time in the Korea Baseball Organization. While a new swing could potentially unlock more upside in his bat, it is a work in progress and seemingly increases the chances he could begin the season in the minors, something manager Dave Roberts conceded earlier this week is a possibility. Kim is 1-for-12 with a 5:2 K:BB in his first five Cactus League games. If he does begin the year in the minors, it could lead to the Dodgers deploying Tommy Edman at second base and Andy Pages in center field.
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Dodgers' Hyeseong Kim: Could open year in minors
Rotowire
Kim could open the year in the minors as he continues to make swing adjustments, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Kim has drawn rave reviews for his infield defense, but he was a light-hitting player even in the KBO, where his career high in homers was 11. Given the Dodgers have a bevy of strong options, they can afford to ease Kim into things against Triple-A pitching if they think he will be overmatched at the plate in the majors. Tommy Edman's versatility could allow him to play second or shortstop alongside Mookie Betts while Andy Pages potentially takes on a prominent role in the outfield.
Manager Dave Roberts said Saturday that the Dodgers will look to use Kim in center field during spring training in addition to second base and shortstop, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.
Kim has a bit of experience playing in the outfield from his time in Korea, though he was only ever used in the corners. The Dodgers -- eager to add another lefty-hitting option in center field -- believe the 26-year-old's speed will allow him to succeed in the new role, but Kim is still expected to serve primarily as a second baseman once the regular season begins.
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