Might begin the season within the minor leagues?
supervisor took the lengthy path to get to his reply Tuesday.
When requested concerning the workforce’s new South Korean infielder, and precisely how he’ll match into the membership’s plans come opening day, Roberts acknowledged that there’s nonetheless a “query mark” with Kim’s bat. He famous that the 26-year-old utility man was nonetheless adjusting to major-league competitors. He defined how Dodgers coaches are persevering with to information him via a collection of swing modifications.
For a number of moments, Roberts then lauded Kim, praising the previous Gold Glove-winning Korean Baseball Group star for his determination to “guess on himself to return right here and to compete.”
However, lastly, Roberts conceded precisely how stiff Kim’s competitors for an opening-day roster spot stays — confirming that, sure, Kim might begin the season within the minor leagues, although a remaining determination stays a number of weeks away.
“Proper now, he’s in a contest to earn a job with us,” Roberts stated. “So I’d say that’s nonetheless all in play, and we don’t must decide proper now.”
Two months in the past, this might have certified as stunning information.
In early January, the Dodgers landed Kim on a with a two-year membership choice. Although that didn’t qualify as one of many workforce’s larger monetary commitments throughout its almost , the signing nonetheless marked a severe long-term funding; a lot in order that the Dodgers traded beginning second baseman three days later to seemingly clear the best way for Kim at second base.
There have been questions on Kim’s bat then. Although he was a .304 profession hitter within the KBO, he had solely 37 house runs in 953 video games. Although scouts preferred his contact capability, defensive versatility and lightning-quick pace (Kim had 211 profession steals within the KBO), his lack of energy was a major concern when he was posted for MLB golf equipment to signal.
The Dodgers have been undeterred. They checked out Kim — a 5-foot-10 ball of muscle with the bottom physique fats share on this yr’s spring camp — and noticed the potential for extra pop. With the best swing modifications, they hoped, the slick-gloved fielder might additionally present manufacturing on the plate.
“He already has actually good bat-to-ball [skills], which is an efficient basis, clearly,” common supervisor stated. “After which with the ability to influence the ball a bit bit extra and journey out some off-speed pitches in a greater approach, there’s undoubtedly some items there that we really feel like we will deal with to faucet into the upside.”
Three weeks into camp, nonetheless, such enhancements stay very a lot a piece in progress.
Throughout stay batting follow classes in opposition to the Dodgers’ gifted pitching workers, Kim has typically appeared overmatched on the plate, struggling to regulate to a steep bounce in velocity (MLB pitchers throw their fastball, on common, some 5 mph more durable than these within the KBO) and the flurry of depraved breaking pitches.
In his first 4 Cactus League video games, Kim’s outcomes on the plate have remained bleak: one infield single in 9 at-bats, two walks, 4 strikeouts and just one ball hit more durable than 95 mph (the brink for hard-hit contact underneath MLB’s Statcast analytics system).
Like Roberts, Gomes additionally not too long ago left open the opportunity of beginning Kim within the minors.
“I simply suppose there’s a lot unknown between now and opening day, seeing how the roster performs out and the way he seems,” Gomes stated final week, taking a noncommittal stance when requested about Kim’s opening day roster outlook. “However we’re excited with what he’s delivered to the desk. The power, the protection has been actually spectacular. After which the work ethic.”
Kim has acquired rave critiques general this spring.
Teammate known as him a Gold Glove-caliber defender at second base, impressed with Kim’s pure athleticism and clear fundamentals. Coaches have famous Kim’s receptiveness to working at different positions, too, taking drills this camp at shortstop (the place he additionally had in depth expertise within the KBO) and middle discipline (a place he by no means performed professionally in South Korea).
Most of all, the Dodgers have appreciated Kim’s buy-in on the plate, the place he has embraced “important changes” to his bat path and swing mechanics, as Roberts described them, within the hopes of constructing “this transition simpler and sustainable.”
“He’s been actually spectacular in that sense,” echoed hitting coach Aaron Bates. “He has the elements to be nice.”
What has change into away from late, although, is that it would take a while for Kim to change into a completed product offensively. And within the meantime, the Dodgers must resolve whether or not his future growth is healthier suited by trial and error within the massive leagues, or a lower-stakes stint in opposition to minor-league pitching.
“He’s simply obtained to have extra recreation repetitions,” Roberts stated. “However the buy-in has been excellent.”
There are different components that can affect the Dodgers’ opening day roster choices. At present, there seem like 4 gamers battling for the final two place participant slots: Kim and outfielders , and .
Although Taylor is coming off a woeful 2024 season and has gotten off to his personal sluggish begin this spring, he nonetheless looks as if an extended shot to be minimize for now, given his observe report with the Dodgers in addition to the $17 million nonetheless owed on his contract (which expires on the finish of this season).
Pages, in the meantime, is attempting to construct off an auspicious rookie season by which he hit .248 with 13 house runs, 23 doubles and 46 RBIs. A return to the minors, even quickly, may solely gradual his growth curve.
A lot, after all, can change between now and the Dodgers’ home house opener in late March, once they must trim their roster all the way down to 26 gamers (the workforce can take a bigger touring occasion to its season-opening video games in Tokyo). Even one harm elsewhere on the roster may very well be sufficient to cement Kim’s place within the massive leagues.
However for now, his roster standing stays in query, with the Dodgers seemingly open to beginning him within the minors this yr in the event that they suppose it can assist his long-term outlook — and assist him proceed to enhance his swing.
“We’ll let the spring play out,” Gomes stated, “and see how these issues progress.”
