GLENDALE, Ariz. — In relation to first impressions of Hyeseong Kim, the Dodgers have been pretty constant of their descriptions.
“He is rather a lot stronger than I anticipated,” supervisor Dave Roberts stated. “I feel he is one of many [lowest] physique fats guys in our camp.”
“He’s quick, he’s athletic,” first baseman Freddie Freeman stated a couple of days later. “I’ve heard he’s bought the bottom body-fat share on our crew.”
Kim is used to others citing his bodily health; his former teammates within the KBO stated the identical. However do not let the experiences of his ability with the glove be misplaced in all of the chatter.
Early on in his first massive league camp, Kim has notably impressed together with his protection. He is a four-time Golden Glove Award winner, which honors the very best total participant at every place within the KBO, successful the award in every of the previous three seasons at second base after claiming it at shortstop in 2021.
That stated, there are some questions surrounding Kim, who joined the Dodgers in January on a three-year, $12.5 million contract after being posted by the KBO’s Kiwoom Heroes: the place he’ll play, and the way he’ll deal with massive league pitching.
Naturally, the solutions to these questions are considerably tied collectively.
“I feel that he can actually win ballgames together with his protection alone,” Roberts stated. “Then the query is the event half. What’s good for him? What’s good for the Dodgers? And that, we do not have to reply proper now.”
If he exhibits he can stick within the on a regular basis lineup, Kim might probably earn the job at second base, which will be the Dodgers’ most unresolved place within the wake of the offseason deal that despatched Gavin Lux to the Reds. But when Los Angeles is not sure about his bat, Kim might as an alternative be used as a left-handed superutility choice.
“I am not tied right down to a single place, so I am practising at each single place that I get an opportunity to,” Kim stated, with worldwide scout Dean Kim decoding. “I’ll put together at any time when I am known as on to play any place that Doc would need me to play.”
Per Roberts, Kim is predicted to get reps at second base, third base and middle area this spring. Though Kim by no means logged any time in middle in a KBO recreation, he made 44 appearances in left in 2020. He additionally grew up taking part in the outfield earlier than he reached highschool and feels extra comfy taking part in middle area somewhat than a nook, as he prefers monitoring down balls from that vantage level.
On the plate, Kim is thought for his bat-to-ball abilities. The Dodgers are excessive on his underlying ability set, which they consider will translate to the upper velocity within the Main Leagues in due time.
Kim is presently engaged on making changes to his bat path, and hitting coach Aaron Bates has been impressed by his progress.
“He has the elements to be nice,” Bates stated. “It is simply type of fine-tuning issues. Clearly, he was a fantastic participant in Korea and has all of the parts, so it is simply making some tweaks right here and there. All of the whereas, letting him play and play free, mentally.”
When Kim is within the area, he does simply that. Towards the tip of infield follow on Sunday, Kim was about to area the final grounder of the session earlier than Mookie Betts bought the eye of the followers watching off to the facet and began up a “Let’s go Dodgers” chant.
Kim simply grinned, charged in to area the ball cleanly and hit his goal at first base.
“Mookie was having enjoyable with him and making an attempt to type of create somewhat little bit of atmosphere or stress for him,” Roberts stated. “Inclusion. And in order that’s telling, that folks already gravitate towards him.”
For Kim, the most important adjustment of all this season may not be something he does on the sphere — however somewhat that he is taking part in in a brand new league and dwelling in a brand new nation. To date, he is felt embraced by teammates and followers alike, one thing that has eased his transition.
“It is a complete new feeling I am getting, simply being welcomed by all these followers,” Kim stated. “Once they name my identify out — ‘Kim! Kim!’ — I am positively grateful that followers know my identify and so they wish to work together with me.”
