Hyeseong Kim has quickly made a positive impression on his new Los Angeles Dodgers teammates and coaches during the initial stages of his first spring training with the team. His defensive prowess has been particularly striking, so much so that manager Dave Roberts is hesitant to limit him solely to infield positions. Roberts indicated that Kim will see playing time at second base, third base, and center field throughout spring training.
Los Angeles Dodgers Testing Hyeseong Kim At Multiple Positions
“I think that he can certainly win ballgames with his defense alone,” Roberts said. “Then the question is the development part. What’s good for him? What’s good for the Dodgers? And that, we don’t have to answer right now.”
From Kim’s perspective, this plan of attack suits his skill set well;
“I’m not tied down to a single position, so I’m practicing at every single position that I get a chance to,” Kim said, with international scout Dean Kim interpreting. “I’m going to prepare whenever I’m called on to play any position that Doc would want me to play.”
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While Kim appears to be adapting well to the on-field aspects of the game, the most significant adjustment for him may lie in the batter’s box. Facing Major League Baseball pitchers presents a distinct challenge compared to his experiences in the KBO.
“Defensively, I think it’ll be very seamless,” Roberts said. “Offensively, there’s certainly more velocity. Controlling, getting his path right. Being able to handle balls that move late, handle velocity, use the whole field. He’s going to put the ball in play. He can run.
“I just think he needs repetition. So we’re going to try to get him out there as much as we can (in spring training) to calibrate on big-league stuff. But he’s already shown me that he’s a quick study, and he’s got aptitude.”