Dodgers manager Dave Roberts revealed that 2025 Opening Day second baseman Tommy Edman would not be available to start the season after surgery, and that Kim is “in the mix” to earn the spot.
“Yes, of course,” Kim said. “As a baseball player, it’s always been my dream. To start at second base on an Opening Day roster. That’s why I worked hard for it this offseason and hopefully the results are showing.”
Kim played in 71 games for the Dodgers in the 2025 season, appearing in 45 of those games in the second game. Despite his limited opportunities, he showed a solid glove, with a cross-country run value of plus-2.
How did Hyeseong Kim perform on offense in 2025?
Kim started his MLB career with a bang in 2025, utilizing minimal playing time during his first month in the majors.
The Dodgers called Kim up in early May 2025 and he hit .422 all month with a 1.068 OPS. He hit two of his three home runs during his first month in the majors.
However, after May, Kim’s numbers slowly began to decline.
He maintained a decent batting average and finished the season at a .280 clip, but his OPS dropped to .699 by the end of the season. He only found his way to two games during the postseason, but was able to score the winning run in Game 4 of the NLDS against the Philadelphia Phillies and was on the field for the finals of the World Series.
Who is Hyeseong Kim’s competition at second base?
The Dodgers have done well to shore up their infield depth after moments in 2025 where they looked thin, and Roberts mentioned several other candidates for their vacancy at second base.
“I think Hyeseong is in the mix, we have that [Santiago] Espinal, obviously Miggy Ro is going to do some stuff there, Freeland definitely in the mix, so we have some nice options,” Roberts said.
LA signed Santiago Espinal — a former All-Star — to a minor league deal on Monday, and Miguel Rojas and Alex Freeland both spent time at second base last season. Kim will look to distinguish himself in spring training and earn his spot as a starter in his first full season in the Majors.
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