[Sports Seoul | Reporter Bae Woo-geun] The Los Angeles Dodgers’ decision to option Kim Hye-seong (27) to the minors has reignited debate in the U.S.
On the 30th (Korean time), the Dodgers sent Kim to Triple-A Oklahoma City and reinstated Santiago Espinal—who had recently been designated for assignment—on the major-league roster.
U.S. outlets quickly picked up the story.
Sports Illustrated reported on the 31st that “the Dodgers plan to lean on Espinal for now while Kim sharpens his hitting in the minors,” and suggested Kim might not return to the big leagues until the second half.
Team officials pointed to a breakdown in Kim’s hitting mechanics as the reason for the move.
General manager Brandon Gomes said, “His hitting setup fell apart, and he’s started reverting to the struggles we saw last year.”
Manager Dave Roberts added, “Kim’s swing has changed. He’s not using his lower half enough, and his bat drifts out. He’s swinging and missing more than early in the season, and lately he’s looked tentative.”
After his call-up, Kim hit .314 over 26 games, but he’s gone just .174 in his last 17 games. His season line has dropped to a .259 average with a .651 OPS.
By comparison, Espinal—who took Kim’s roster spot—carries a .571 OPS, and fellow contender Alex Freeland sits at a .616 OPS.
On the surface, the numbers have prompted fans to question the move. Social feeds have lit up with critics saying the Dodgers are overlooking Kim, with some even arguing his biggest mistake was signing with the organization.
The controversy dates back to spring training: Kim hit .407 with a .967 OPS but didn’t make the Opening Day roster, while Freeland stuck despite a .125 average and .531 OPS.
Kim eventually returned to the majors following Mookie Betts’ injury and repeatedly won roster battles—until this latest setback.
The road back won’t be easy.
Tommy Edman is currently rehabbing with game action underway, and Freeland remains a player the Dodgers view as part of their future plans. Barring new injuries or a slump from Kim’s rivals, it’s tough to predict when he’ll get another shot in the big leagues.
kenny@sportsseoul.com
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