Looking for Kim Hyeseong? Dodgers' MLB spot is completely blocked, Korean media laments: "Fading presence"

The Los Angeles Dodgers' Korean infielder Hyeseong Kim is finding it increasingly difficult to return to the major leagues this season. According to a report from Korean media outlet OSEN, with Tommy Edman's explosive all-around performance since returning from injury and Kiké Hernández also nearing a return, Kim's presence is gradually diminishing. In the short term, it seems unlikely he will get another chance to be called up to the big leagues.

According to SportsNet LA, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts praised Edman after the game, calling it the "best version" of Edman he has ever seen. Roberts said that Edman has always been reliable and can handle any position he's asked to play, and his outstanding defense has prevented runs for the team. What surprised the coaching staff even more is his noticeable improvement on the offensive side.

"He was already great when batting right-handed against lefties, but now when he bats left-handed against righties, both his quality of at-bats and contact have improved significantly," Roberts said. "Since he returned, our entire team has completely changed."

Edman underwent ankle surgery during the offseason last year and, after a long rehabilitation, did not return to the majors until mid-June. However, he quickly regained his form after coming back, recording 31 hits in 86 at-bats over his last 28 games, with a .360 batting average, 2 home runs, 17 RBIs, and an OPS of .974. During this stretch, Edman's batting average ranked third in the entire league, and his OPS ranked fourteenth, showcasing elite offensive production for the Dodgers.

As a switch hitter, Edman historically performed significantly better from the right side than from the left. But this season, both sides have been very consistent: as a right-handed batter, he has a .348 batting average and 1.048 OPS, while as a left-handed batter, he has a .365 batting average and .944 OPS, with almost no noticeable gap.

Edman was originally known for his defensive skills, winning a National League Gold Glove at second base while with the Cardinals in 2021. Besides second base, he can also play shortstop and center field. Now that his offensive production has fully upgraded, he has become an indispensable starter for the Dodgers on both sides of the ball.

However, the better Edman performs, the harder it becomes for Kim Hyeseong to return to the majors. OSEN lamented, "The more successful Edman is, the thinner Kim Hyeseong's presence becomes."

Kim Hyeseong started this season in the minors. He was called up to the majors on April 6 after Mookie Betts was placed on the injured list, but he fell into a hitting slump in May and was eventually optioned to Triple-A on May 30.

Kim Hyeseong played 43 games in the majors this season, posting a .259 batting average, 1 home run, 11 RBIs, and 5 stolen bases, with an OPS of .651. After returning to Triple-A, he has accumulated 47 hits in 161 at-bats, with a .292 batting average, 1 home run, 17 RBIs, and an OPS of .719. His overall performance is still not particularly outstanding.

Making Kim's situation even worse, another Dodgers utility player, Hernández, is also nearing a return. Hernández underwent elbow surgery in the offseason last year. After returning to the team in late May, he played only two games before landing back on the injured list with an oblique strain. He is currently playing rehab games in Triple-A, and it is expected that he could rejoin the team, along with closer Edwin Díaz, as early as when the Dodgers return to Los Angeles after their East Coast road trip.

Kim Hyeseong joined the Dodgers in the 2024 offseason, signing a three-year, $12.5 million contract. Last season, he played his first major league year, appearing in 71 games with a .280 batting average, 3 home runs, and 17 RBIs, and went on to the playoffs with the team, ultimately winning the World Series championship.

However, this season, with the Dodgers' infield competition becoming even more intense, coupled with Edman's all-around improvement and Hernández's imminent return, Kim's chances of returning to the majors in the short term are increasingly limited. Because his salary is relatively low and he has multi-position versatility, he has been frequently mentioned by U.S. media recently as a potential trade chip for the Dodgers before the deadline.