Dodgers sign Korean infielder Hyeseong Kim to a 3-year deal

Dustin Nosler 01/03/2025 Transactions Leave A Comment

Hyeseong Kim

The Dodgers’ offseason isn’t done quite yet. They are reportedly in agreement with Korean infielder Hyeseong Kim on a 3-year deal worth $12.5 million. There are two option years (that need to be picked up at once) that could push the total value to $22 million.

Sounds a lot like Tommy Edman, Enrique Hernandez and Chris Taylor. With Taylor a free agent after the season and Hernandez still unsigned, Kim has a chance to carve out a nice role in LA with his Team Korea teammate Edman.

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Kim, 26 this month, played eight professional seasons in the Korea Baseball Organization. He hit .304/.364/.403/.767 in that time and played all over the infield — with second base being the position he played the most — though in his last two seasons that line ticked up to .331/.390/.452/.841. And it seems like the Dodgers have had their eye on him for a while.

And here is the video of that double against Bobby Miller.

He’s not a thumper by any means (despite that rocket off Miller), but he brings solid contact, bat control, plate discipline and baserunning prowess to a team with a lot of thump already.

“Kim is a talented glovesman with plenty of experience on both sides of the second base bag. He primarily played the keystone out of deference to Ha-Seong Kim early in his career. He then moved to the six for the 2021 season. Kim has since returned to second base on a most-days basis — that despite the Heroes having an unsettled state at short. It stands to reason that an MLB squad could have him see action at each spot as needed.
In addition to Kim providing value on defense, he’s likely to serve as an asset on the basepaths. He’s swiped at least 25 bases in each of the past five seasons, and for his career he’s succeeded on 85% of his stolen-base attempts.”

With his smaller stature (5-foot-10, 176 pounds), there are obviously concerns about his offensive ceiling. If he can be anything close to Ha-Seong Kim with the bat, I think the Dodgers would take that given his defense.

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I’m still not buying Mookie Betts as the Dodgers’ full-time shortstop. So, I’m thinking the Dodgers are bringing Kim in with at least the hope he can be the primary shortstop — at least, against right-handed pitching (with Edman playing short against lefties). This should about put to bed any of the Nolan Arenado nonsense, but also should have Gavin Lux on full alert.

Lux is definitely a “vibes” guy — not at level of Kiké, but no one really is. He came back from the gruesome knee injury a couple years ago and hasn’t quite regained that offensive output he once displayed (save for a 45-game stretch from July to September) and had his struggles at times, defensively, at second base. And that’s a bit of a problem as a 2B-only option for a team that covets versatility. Sure, he has played shortstop and the outfield in his career, but not well and not recently.

With the Kim signing, I can see Betts being the Dodgers’ primary second baseman, Kim and Edman splitting time at shortstop, and Lux on his way to another team. He was involved in the trade discussions around Devin Williams before Williams was, ultimately, dealt to the Yankees. I had him going to the Marlins as part of a package to get reliever Anthony Bender and corner player Jacob Berry in my offseason plan. I’d expect something like that rather than him being the centerpiece of a bigger deal.

Then again, I could be totally wrong and the Dodgers will figure out a way to make Lux fit with the current group of position players. But roster spaces are even more valuable with all the talent the Dodgers have, so Lux getting shipped out before Spring Training wouldn’t be the least bit surprising. In fact, with the Dodgers officially announcing the Teoscar Hernandez re-signing just minutes ago, the 40-man roster is at capacity. They cannot place players on the 60-day injured list until the start of Spring Training, so look for some kind of roster move very soon before the Kim signing is officially announced.

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Update

Diego Cartaya was designated off the 40-man to make room.

Unfortunately, not all that surprising if you look at what’s he’s done of late.

Additionally, Kim apparently agreed to let the team send him to the minors if necessary, which should help the big-league roster crunch immensely.

Hyeseong Kim reportedly can't veto an assignment to the minors, which seems significant for the roster crunch stuff. Must've really wanted to play for the Dodgers. www.mksports.co.kr/news/sports/…

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— Chad Moriyama (@chadmoriyama.bsky.social) January 3, 2025 at 4:00 PM

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Overall, a solid signing for LA that at least creates further depth and has some upside. Kim brings a different look at the plate than they have (for the most part), while his defense and baserunning will be valuable additions to a team looking to defend its World Series championship.

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About Dustin Nosler

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Dustin Nosler began writing about the Dodgers in July 2009 on his blog, Feelin' Kinda Blue, and co-hosted a weekly podcast with Jared Massey called Dugout Blues. He was a contributor/editor at The Hardball Times and True Blue LA. He graduated from California State University, Sacramento with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a minor in digital media. While at CSUS, he worked for the student-run newspaper The State Hornet for three years, culminating with a one-year term as editor-in-chief. He resides in Stockton, California.
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