The void left by Mookie Betts' injury has grown larger than expected. And at the center of that is Kim Hye-seong.
The Dodgers-focused outlet "Dodger Blue" reported that on the 6th (Korean time) the LA Dodgers placed Mookie Betts on the 10-day injured list (IL) with a right oblique strain and called up Kim Hye-seong from Triple-A Oklahoma City.
The problem is that it does not end with Betts' departure alone. Starting second baseman Tommy Edman also has not returned due to offseason right ankle surgery aftereffects. Locally, Edman's return is expected at the end of May.
In the end, the Dodgers have effectively lost the starting keystone combination they envisioned before the season. This has made changes to infield operations inevitable.
Manager Dave Roberts said, "Miguel Rojas and Kim Hye-seong will split time at shortstop," and added, "Alex Freeland is likely to take over second base." He went on to say, "There's a good chance a platoon will be used at shortstop."
In other words, Kim Hye-seong was given the opportunity upon his call-up not as a simple backup but as a key piece of a "shortstop platoon."
Rojas is a veteran who has already handled this role several times. He filled in at shortstop when Gavin Lux suffered an ACL injury in 2023, and he also covered shortstop when Betts missed time last year with a hand injury. The Dodgers plan to center their approach on Rojas while sharing duties with Kim Hye-seong to manage workload.
Kim Hye-seong's value is becoming even more prominent. Roberts said, "Kim Hye-seong has wide defensive range and good reaction to batted balls. He has the ability to handle the ball reliably," and added, "Recently his throwing mechanics have improved, giving his throws more carry." He added, "He's not a player with a weak arm, but his ball transfer is in a better state now."
Although Kim Hye-seong played mostly second base at Triple-A this season, he proved his multi-position ability by also playing center field and shortstop. In fact, he appeared most often at second base and expanded his versatility by gaining experience in the outfield and at shortstop.
From the Dodgers' perspective, Kim Hye-seong's flexibility to handle multiple positions is a major advantage.
Meanwhile, Alex Freeland is also an important piece in the infield plans. Although originally a shortstop, he has no experience at that position in the big leagues and has mainly played second and third base. The Dodgers are considering placing Freeland at second to leverage his left-handed hitting strengths.
Kim Hye-seong was given an immediate opportunity. He made his big league debut as a defensive replacement right after being called up, and in the April 7 road game against the Toronto Blue Jays he is slated to start at shortstop and bat ninth.
The starting infield is simultaneously shaken. A crisis is also an opportunity. It remains to be seen whether Kim Hye-seong can use this chance as a stepping stone to expand his standing in the big leagues.
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