The Los Angeles Dodgers are set to promote infielder Hyeseong Kim from the minors, as reported by Dodgers Daily. This interesting statement indicates that Kim is poised to make his Major League Baseball launching in the future. Although he is currently consisted of on the 40-man lineup, the group will require to make a matching transfer to formally include him to the active lineup before he can step onto the field.

At simply 26 years of ages, Kim was an extremely popular complimentary representative throughout the offseason. Over 8 seasons in the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO), he published excellent statistics, striking .304/.364/.403 while showcasing his flexibility by playing numerous positions, mainly in the middle infield. While his power numbers might not be standout, his capability to make contact regularly places him as an interesting energy gamer for the Dodgers’ lineup.

In an unexpected turn of occasions, the Dodgers protected Kim’s services with a three-year agreement worth $12.5 million. At the time of this finalizing, the group currently boasted a strong middle infield lineup, consisting of stars like Mookie Betts, Gavin Lux, Tommy Edman, and Miguel Rojas. This raised concerns about Kim’s fit within the group. However, with Lux being traded to the Reds quickly after, Kim’s path to playing time opened substantially.

Despite the preliminary enjoyment, Kim was optioned to the minors on March 11th, simply days before the Dodgers started their journey to Japan for the Tokyo Series. Since then, most of the middle infield playing time has actually gone to Betts and Edman, with Rojas and Enrique Hernández contributing sporadically. This plan has actually restricted Kim’s possibilities to display his abilities at the Major League level.

While in Triple-A, Kim has actually been an active gamer, with 131 plate looks over 28 video games. Although his 7.6% walk rate and 24.4% strikeout rate are somewhat below par, he has actually shown his power capacity with 5 crowning achievement, leading to a line of .252/.328/.470 and a wRC+ of 105. Additionally, he has actually revealed his speed on the bases, taking 13 bases without being captured, while playing numerous positions consisting of 2nd base, shortstop, and center field.

The choice to promote Kim might likewise be affected by Edman’s current battles, as he has actually missed out on the last 2 video games due to best ankle pain. While he has actually not yet been put on the hurt list, Kim’s promo might show that the Dodgers are getting ready for that possibility. If Edman is put on the IL, it might be backdated by 3 days, permitting him to possibly return within a week if he recuperates quickly.

If Edman does go on the hurt list, the Dodgers would have Kim, Rojas, and Hernández readily available to fill the 2nd base area. The circulation of playing time amongst these gamers stays unsure, however it’s clear that Kim is on the edge of making his MLB launching at some point today, supplying an amazing chance for both him and the group.

Photo thanks to Mark J. Rebilas, Imagn Images