When Hyeseong Kim doubled against the Los Angeles Dodgers in an exhibition game in South Korea last spring, the team’s front office took notice. General manager Brandon Gomes said of Kim, “It was eye-popping to watch the way he moved in what he did against us.” The team knew of Kim before they headed to the Far East, but watching him up close cemented their view that he could be an impact player for the club.
After playing eight seasons in the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) — two seasons with the Nexen Heroes and six with the Kiwoom Heroes — Kim was posted to MLB in December. He had until 5pm last Friday night to sign with a major league club or he would have been forced to head back to Korea. The Dodgers finalized their deal just under the wire.
According to multiple sources, Kim’s contract with Los Angeles is for three years, with $12.5 million guaranteed. In addition, there is a two-year club option for 2028 and 2029 that could push the value of the deal to $22 million. There are competing stories that the Los Angeles Angels offered Kim a five-year, $28 million guarantee, but Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register has refuted that report.
Regardless of the number of teams vying for Kim’s services, he ultimately chose the Dodgers, who will also have to pay Kiwoom a $2.5 million posting fee, which is 20% go the guaranteed amount. Sportsnet broke down the terms of the deal as follows: $1 million signing bonus; $2.5 million in 2025; $3.75 million in 2026 and 2027; a two-year option at $5 million per season, which converts to a $1.5 million buy-out if the club declines the option. Kim can also earn an additional $500,000 in each of 2028 and 2029 if he makes 500 plate appearances.
Last season in the KBO, Kim slashed .326/.383/.458 with eleven home runs and 30 stolen bases. The 26-year-old utility player has won four KBO Golden Glove Awards — at shortstop in 2021, and the past three seasons at second base. He also logged 44 games in left field for Kiwoom in 2020, giving the Dodgers another Swiss Army knife in their lineup. The Dodgers still plan on having Mookie Betts start the season at shortstop, and Gavin Lux at second base, but plans change, injuries occur, trades happen. What is clear is that Kim’s signing will directly impact Chris Taylor’s playing time, as Kim plays each of Taylor’s positions, ostensibly with a better glove and a better bat. Taylor slashed .250/.329/.423 last season after a dreadful start. He finished the year with a 73 OPS+ and -0.1 bWAR. Suffice it to say, the eight-year-younger Kim will be a marked improvement over that level of production.
The signing of Kim also seems to foreclose a reunion of Kiké Hernández with the team who has employed him for eight of his eleven big league seasons. A fan favorite who always seems to come up clutch in the post-season, Hernández may have to find another suitor in the lead-up to spring training. That said, there has been recent speculation that the Dodgers could send pitcher Tony Gonsolin and Taylor to St. Louis in return for Los Angeles-area native Nolan Arenado. In that scenario, the Dodgers could find another spot on their roster for Hernández. As stated above, there is still a long way to go in this off-season, and Los Angeles may be far from done making moves to improve a club that won 98 games last season, including the final one in the Bronx to bring home a World Series championship.
Will the Dodgers have room on their roster to sign fan favorite Kiké Hernández? (Photo by Katelyn … [+]
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