His smile has brightened the locker room, his bat has energized a once-impotent section of the lineup and his pace has remodeled their offense.
Hyeseong Kim belongs within the main leagues.
Supervisor Dave Roberts was requested the opposite night time in regards to the “difficult decision” the Dodgers must make on Kim when utilityman Tommy Edman and outfielder Teoscar Hernández return from the injured record within the subsequent couple of weeks, however nothing about this resolution needs to be troublesome.
Kim will nonetheless belong within the main leagues.
There gained’t be sufficient at-bats for him?
The Dodgers have to search out them.
He can acquire extra expertise within the minors?
A 26-year-old who performed seven-plus seasons within the Korean Baseball Group earlier than he signed with the Dodgers, Kim isn’t a typical rookie.
President of baseball operations Andrew Friedman mentioned a part of the explanation catcher Dalton Dashing was referred to as up this week was due to the competitors within the Nationwide League West?
The identical logic needs to be utilized to Kim’s scenario.
Make liberal use of the injured record. Launch Chris Taylor. Do no matter is important for Kim to stay in Los Angeles.
“How he’s playing,” Roberts acknowledged, “certainly helps his case.”
Shohei Ohtani homered twice in a 19-2 victory over the Athletics at Dodger Stadium on Thursday night time. Each instances, Kim was on base.
Ohtani, who leads off for the Dodgers, drove in solely 10 runs in his first 30 video games of the season. The underside of the order wasn’t hitting or drawing walks
Within the first 12 video games Ohtani performed since Kim was referred to as up from triple-A Oklahoma Metropolis, Ohtani collected 18 runs batted in.
Kim batted eighth or ninth in every of the eight video games he began by way of Thursday, and he’d already been pushed residence by Ohtani 5 instances. The one participant Ohtani has pushed in additional this season: Ohtani.
“A lot easier to pitch to Shohei when nobody’s on base,” Roberts mentioned. “Recently, certainly with Kim and his ability to get on base, there’s always traffic.”
Kim entered the Freeway Collection opener on Friday batting .429, a nice shock contemplating he regarded utterly overmatched on the plate in spring coaching. His means to make contact has enhanced his best weapon, his legs.
“He’s really talented,” third baseman Max Muncy mentioned. “He can do a lot of really special things that you can’t see from a lot of players.”
That game-changing pace was on show in simply his second main league recreation when he was deployed as a ninth-inning pinch runner with a one-run deficit towards the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park. Kim stole second base and reached third on a dropped third strike, positioning him inside 90 ft of the tying run. The following two batters struck out and the Dodgers misplaced the sport, however the cameo efficiency was a preview of what was to come back.
In his first 12 main league video games, Kim stole three bases and plated 9 runs. Three of his first 12 hits had been infield hits.
“I tried to figure out what my role is in this organization, and I’m just trying to control what I can control,” Kim mentioned by way of an interpreter.
Dodgers coaches additionally consider Kim’s pace has influenced how opponents assault Ohtani. One explicit instance that was cited was Ohtani’s three-run, ninth-inning residence run in a 14-11 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Could 9.
Kim was on second base and Michael Conforto was on first when Ohtani got here to the plate with one out and the rating stage, 11-11. Strolling Ohtani would have moved the go-ahead run to 3rd base, and with Kim’s pace, any ball put in play by the subsequent batter would have seemingly resulted in a run. Diamondbacks reliever Ryan Thompson pitched to Ohtani, who launched a 1-2 pitch into the stands in right-center.
“With the speed dynamic [of Kim], it creates stress,” Roberts mentioned. “He can steal a base, go first to third. It certainly opens some things up for the top of the order.”
The Dodgers have scored a median of seven.3 runs per recreation since Kim joined the crew. Within the course of, he’s change into a beloved determine within the clubhouse, overcoming a language barrier to type bonds with a variety of gamers that features everybody from Ohtani to Mookie Betts.
“That started in spring training,” Muncy mentioned. “He was there with a couple of us and just immediately fit right in. He likes to have fun. He’s always smiling, he’s always laughing. He’s really fun to have out there.”
With a three-year deal that could possibly be prolonged by the Dodgers for a further two seasons, Kim figures to be part of their future. However he’s already a motive for why they’re clicking now, and the returns of Edman and Hernández shouldn’t change that.
