Mesa, Arizona

Hyesung Kim shared that representing South Korea in the World Baseball Classic was a “great experience.” Unfortunately, this sentiment didn’t quite match how he performed at the plate.

The South Korean team faced a tough loss against the Dominican Republic in the quarterfinals earlier this week. In his four games during the WBC, Kim managed just one hit out of 12 at-bats.

That lone hit was quite memorable—he hit a two-run homer that tied the game against Japan, although South Korea ultimately lost 8-6 in a heated matchup at Tokyo Dome. Despite this highlight, Kim struggled to carry that momentum into the rest of the tournament.

After returning to the Dodgers’ camp, he reflected on his performance and believed that issues with his swing were to blame.

“After watching some videos of my games, I noticed some changes compared to before,” Kim pointed out through an interpreter, indicating issues with his lower body and bat trajectory. “I just need to focus on those things and make it smoother.”

During a recent spring training game against the Cubs, Kim showed signs of improvement, getting one hit in four at-bats, alongside a stolen base and a run scored. However, he’s aware that time is running out. With just a week left in spring training, he aims to prove himself worthy of a spot on the Dodgers’ opening day roster.

“I’m concentrating on what I’m good at, like base running and defense. I want to nail those aspects,” he mentioned. “But the WBC didn’t go well for me, so I’m determined to make this last week count. I’ll work on my hitting too.”

Kim is mainly vying for the second base position, especially with the role opposite Miguel Rojas currently up for grabs while Tommy Edman is sidelined due to offseason ankle surgery.

Before heading to the WBC, Kim looked like a stronger candidate for the infield compared to fellow second-year infielder Alex Freeland, although Freeland hasn’t had much success lately, batting only .118 in the Cactus League this spring.

Kim’s recent struggles have changed the landscape of competition as the regular season approaches. “He just doesn’t seem to be in sync with his swing right now,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts remarked about Kim, noting that he had missed the WBC match after injuring his finger, although he stated the injury has completely healed.

“He definitely makes sense for our roster,” Roberts added, “but he needs to be in good form to feel confident while taking his at-bats.” This sentiment extends to Alex Freeland as well, but there’s still some time left to find solutions.

Here are a few other insights from the Dodgers’ recent outings:

• Tucker’s Long Ball: Kyle Tucker hit a two-run homer in a split-squad game against the Rangers, landing 390 feet from home plate and sealing a 5-3 victory. This was his second homer this spring.
• Betts Shines on Both Sides: Mookie Betts had notable moments on both offense and defense in the Dodgers’ 14-8 triumph over the Cubs, making an impressive stop at shortstop.
• Impressive Rookie: Outfielder Jack Swinski, who was picked off waivers and subsequently sent to the minors, made a strong start by hitting a homer in his Cactus League debut with the Dodgers. Swinski has had a solid four-year MLB career, particularly against the Dodgers.
• Up Next: Tyler Glasnow is expected to make his final Cactus League start when the Dodgers take on the Brewers at Camelback Ranch on Monday afternoon.