Cody Snavely
ATLANTA— After yesterday’s narrow 2-1 win over the Atlanta Braves, the Los Angeles Dodgers are calling up newly signed Korean utilityman Hyeseong Kim from Triple-A OKC.
Kim, 26, signed a 3-year, $12.5 million deal with options to extend it to a 5-year, $22 million contract and was seen by many as the logical replacement for Dodgers second baseman Gavin Lux, who was shipped off to the Cincinnati Reds over the winter.
Over his eight years in the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO), Kim hit .304/.364/.403 with 150 doubles, thirty-nine triples, thirty-seven home runs, 386 RBI, 591 runs, and 211 stolen bases.
However, once spring training began, it was clear it would take time for Kim’s bat to be translated from the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) to the States.
Overall, Kim hit .207/.303/.310 and posted a .613 OPS in Cactus League play, forcing the Dodgers’ hand to demote the utilityman to Triple-A OKC, which would give Kim everyday at-bats, something that wasn’t guaranteed at the Major League level.
Kim has settled in nicely with the OKC Comets this season with a .252/.328/.470 slash line and a .798 OPS in twenty-eight games this season.
The former KBO star has showcased power and speed at the minor league level, hitting eight doubles, one triple, five home runs, driving in nineteen runs, and stealing thirteen bases.
Kim, like Edman, will give the Dodgers versatility as the lefty has played both middle infield positions (2B, SS) and logged innings in center field.
To make room on the Dodgers’ 26-man roster, the Dodgers are placing utilityman Tommy Edman on the 15-day injured list due to tweaking his ankle in a slide on Tuesday’s win over the Miami Marlins, but the Dodgers said his absence from the lineup is no cause for concern.
However, it was the same ankle that delayed his return last season off the 60-day injured list, injuring it on his first minor league rehab assignment when the switch-hitter was with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Edman missed two straight games and was considered day-to-day, according to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.
Edman has been having a career year, slashing .252/.295/.523 with eight home runs, twenty-four RBIs, and an OPS of .818, and will be a massive loss to the Dodgers’ lineup that hasn’t fired on all cylinders this season.
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