Kim hit .422 with an OPS north of 1.000 during his first month in the major leagues, but was unable to maintain his results through the second half of the season. After a .364 OPS showing after the All-Star break, Kim finished the season with an OPS just under .700.
The Athletics Fabian Ardaya commented on what Kim needs to do to stay with the team and said his performance in spring training will be one of the determining factors.
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“This will be a big spring for Hyeseong Kim, who must continue to adjust his swing to show he can continue to play in the big leagues,” The student wrote. “While the area numbers were certainly good for Kim in the majors last year, he showed some clear deficiencies that teams seemed to expose the more reps he got. Kim chases too much below the zone, with not enough contact in the strike zone to make up for it. Tough lefties make life difficult for him.”
“While the other aspects of his game, such as his speed and defense, are big-league ready, there are ongoing adjustments he needs to make with his bat. The Dodgers are excited about Kim’s work behind the scenes and willingness to adapt, which is a point in his favor. It’s just a matter of whether those adjustments fall into place.”
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While Ardaya says he struggled against lefties, Kim posted a .952 OPS against lefties last season while maintaining a .661 OPS against righties. If he manages to be more consistent in 2026 and find the form he had when he came to the Majors, the Dodgers could keep him on the roster and use him in a greater capacity next season.
Photo credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
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