Dodgers’ Hyeseong Kim gives himself a brutally honest grade for the rookie season

Los Angeles Dodgers utility player Hyeseong Kim had an eventful rookie year, going from starting the season in Triple-A to winning the World Series with the Dodgers at the end of the season.

Kim got off to a good start after leaving KBO, posting an OPS of just under .800 with the Oklahoma City Comets in Triple-A. The Dodgers called him up in early May and he immediately made an impact on the lineup.

The 26-year-old took advantage of his limited opportunities during the first month of his MLB career, hitting .422 with an OPS north of 1.000 in May. Kim’s numbers began to decline after that, however, as he suffered a shoulder injury in July and saw less and less time on the field.

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However, he still had solid numbers at the end of the season, hitting .280 with a .699 OPS and three home runs on the year.

Despite Kim’s solid performance as a role player for the Dodgers, he wants to come back stronger next season.

“30 out of 100,” Kim said. “I’m not sure why, but I wasn’t satisfied. I think I still have a long way to go. To fill the remaining 70 points, I need to improve in all areas. As a baseball player, I will strive to reach 100.”

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Kim could very well get more opportunities in 2026, as Miguel Rojas and Kiké Hernández – the Dodgers’ top utilities in 2025 – are both currently free agents. He also has some outfield experience, and while he hasn’t logged a single appearance in left field this season, he could platoon with Alex Call next season to meet the Dodgers’ needs if they avoid signing a replacement for Michael Conforto.

Kim is just scratching the surface of what he is capable of in the MLB and will look to produce more of what he did during his first month in the MLB next season.

Photo credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

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