The Los Angeles Dodgers struck again in pursuit of a high-profile international free agent, signing infielder Hyeseong Kim on Friday, according to multiple media reports in South Korea.
Kim, 25, won’t be expected to impact an already star-studded Dodgers lineup; instead, he was marketed as a glove-first player who can man multiple spots on the infield. He joins an already-crowded gaggle of infielders on the Dodgers roster, with Mookie Betts expected to serve as the full-time shortstop, Gavin Lux at second base and veterans Miguel Rojas and Chris Taylor also under contract.
Yet Rojas, Taylor and third baseman Max Muncy are all free agents after this season, and Kim also provides a hedge if performance or injuries elsewhere dictate that Betts move off shortstop, as he did last season when he returned to right field after suffering a broken hand.
Kim received a three-year, $12.5 million contract, with a club option for two years and an additional $9.5 million.
Friday was the last day of the posting period for Kim, who joins the defending World Series champions in the major league city with the largest Korean population. The club has been aggressive in maintaining its title-winning club, adding lefty Blake Snell on a $182 million contract and re-signing outfielder Teoscar Hernández, who was scheduled to be re-introduced at a news conference Friday.
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Hyeseong Kim stats
Kim is a lifetime .304 hitter in the KBO, playing the last six seasons for Kiwoom. He hit a career-high 11 home runs as a 24-year-old last season, topping his previous high of seven, achieved twice. His last four seasons were excellent from an on-base perspective, as he batted between .304 and .335 with an OBP ranging from .372 to .396.
Yet it’s still an open question how much he’ll hit for power – even of a gap-to-gap variety – in the major leagues. Then again, the Dodgers have plenty of that already, so perhaps this was his ideal destination.
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