With hours left to go earlier than his posting window closes, Hyeseong Kim and the Dodgers are reportedly in settlement on a three-year deal. The information was initially reported by Korean media shops (h/t to Daniel Kim) and confirmed by Francys Romero. Jon Heyman of the New York Post was the primary to report the contract’s monetary phrases. Kim will make a assured $12.5M from 2025-27. After the 2027 season, the Dodgers can train a two-year workforce choice to pay him a further $9.5M from 2027-28.
Kim’s former workforce, the Kiwoom Heroes, formally posted him on Dec. 5, giving him till 4 p.m. CT Friday to signal with an MLB membership. As the times ticked by and the rumor mill remained comparatively quiet, it appeared like a official risk that Kim would return for yet one more season with the Heroes. As an alternative, the Dodgers, who hadn’t been intently linked to Kim this winter, swooped in and made a profitable provide within the nick of time. Along with Kim’s wage, the Dodgers should pay the Heroes a $2.5M launch charge (20% of the assured $12.5M on his deal).
Kim, quickly to be 26, is a four-time consecutive KBO Golden Glove Award winner, given yearly to the perfect general participant at every place. He received the award at shortstop in 2021 earlier than transferring to second base and profitable every year from 2022-24. Along with taking part in a powerful second base and not less than a succesful shortstop, Kim can also be an asset on the basepaths. He led the KBO in stolen bases in 2021 and has swiped not less than 20 baggage in all seven seasons of his profession. His glove and legs ought to give him a comparatively excessive flooring as a utility participant in MLB if nothing else.
The massive query is how Kim’s bat will maintain up towards MLB pitching. Whereas he struggled on the plate early in his profession, the lefty batter blossomed right into a well-above-average hitter throughout his final three years within the KBO. From 2022-24, he produced a .326 batting common and a .384 OBP, whereas his wRC+ was by no means under 118 in any season. Nonetheless, Kim has by no means hit for a lot energy, even by the marginally decrease energy requirements of the KBO. His 2024 season was the perfect of his profession power-wise — he reached double-digit dwelling runs for the primary time — however his .132 remoted energy was nonetheless under league common. Thus, it’s truthful to fret that Kim may not have the required energy to be an on a regular basis participant in MLB. Simply take a look at his former KBO teammate Ha-Seong Kim. Ha-Seong Kim was a real energy risk within the KBO, socking 30 homers in 138 video games throughout his ultimate season in Korea. Since coming to MLB, he has turn out to be referred to as a soft-hitting contact specialist. His profession .137 ISO in MLB is 15% worse than the league common during the last 4 years.
When MLBTR ranked Hyseong Kim at no. 26 on our Top 50 Free Agents listing, we predicted he’d signal a three-year, $24M contract. His precise deal ensures him little greater than half of that predicted wage. That mentioned, it’s price mentioning that Kim reportedly turned down extra money from not less than one different workforce. A consultant from Kim’s company, CAA Baseball, informed a Korean media outlet (handed alongside by Jeeho Yoo of Yonhap News) that the Angels provided him a five-year, $28M deal, whereas the Mariners, Cubs, and Padres additionally made provides with undisclosed phrases. That implies Kim was intent on becoming a member of the Dodgers, even when he might have earned extra money, years, and probably extra taking part in time elsewhere.
To that time, Kim may not have a assured beginning function in L.A. The Dodgers have already got Gavin Lux to play second base, Mookie Betts at shortstop, and Max Muncy holding down the recent nook. Moreover, they’ve the proficient defensive shortstop Miguel Rojas and the versatile Chris Taylor on the bench. Heart fielder Tommy Edman may also play throughout the infield.
Based on Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, Kim will play a “super-utility function” in 2025. The prefix “tremendous” appears to suggest that he’ll be taking part in a number of positions. Whereas he has vital expertise at shortstop and second base, he has solely performed a handful of video games at third base in his skilled profession. He additionally performed 44 video games in left area in the course of the 2020 season, and it is going to be attention-grabbing to see if the Dodgers think about using him within the outfield in any respect. As a “super-utility” participant, Kim will presumably have a much bigger function than a typical bench bat, however with a lot competitors on the Dodgers’ talent-filled roster, he’ll need to earn his taking part in time.
The truth that the Dodgers signed Kim regardless of already having so many infielders proves how a lot this workforce values depth and suppleness. It’s additionally an indication of how a lot they worth what Kim can carry to the desk. Funnily sufficient, supervisor Dave Roberts has already clarified his workforce’s affinity for Kim. After the Dodgers performed an exhibition match towards the Korean nationwide workforce final March, Roberts informed reporters (together with Yoo), “Our scouts just like the second baseman: simply the way in which his physique strikes.” That second baseman, after all, was Kim.
