As he anticipated his transition to Major League Baseball this off-season, Hyeseong Kim tapped into the wisdom of compatriots like former Dodgers players Chan Ho Park and Hyun-Jin Ryu, who had successfully made the shift from Korean baseball to the MLB. Their primary piece of counsel for Kim focused on maintaining an optimal diet, advice that seems to be taken to heart, as evidenced by Kim’s low body-fat percentage, as observed by Freeman.
Kim might have to grapple with an uptick in the intensity of pitching he will encounter in MLB, especially with regards to high-velocity power throws. Acknowledging that the mean fastball speed is significantly greater in the MLB compared to the KBO, Kim indicated that he has been sharpening his skills to confidently face high-speed throws.
To put numbers into perspective, the typical fastball reached an average velocity of 93.8 mph in the past twin seasons in MLB, contrasting with the KBO’s average of 90 mph in the preceding season. As a standout performer in the KBO, Kim, time and again, hit an average of .304 across his eight seasons, which bodes well for his oncoming endeavors.
Shortly upon his arrival at Camelback Ranch, Kim found himself immersed in a series of body assessments and performance tests. The coaching team had him thoroughly engaged in refining his bat trajectory and the orientation of his swing with conscientious attention.
Kim’s versatile skills have elicited admiration and positive expectation among the Dodgers. Their batting coach, Aaron Bates, commended his exceptional bat-to-ball prowess, endowing his belief that Kim had all the makings of a stellar player, just requiring a touch of calibration.
The Dodgers rightfully anticipate Kim, being 26, to be a swift learner as far as defense is concerned. His resume is decorated with the prestigious Gold Glove award in the KBO for three consecutive seasons in the capacity of second baseman, and a preceding victory as a shortstop.
As for the Dodgers’ manager, Dave Roberts, he envisions a smooth transition for Kim in terms of defensive skills. In fact, he regards Kim as a potential game-winner purely on the basis of his defensive prowess, even as an MLB rookie. Roberts applauded Kim’s ability to consistently make contact with the ball and capably maneuver around the field.
According to Roberts, practice makes perfect and hence, they have a goal to provide Kim ample exposure to MLB’s style of play. Kim’s demonstrated track record of learning quickly and showing tremendous proficiency instills confidence in his potential of a successful adaptation to the big leagues.
In other news, relief pitcher Michael Kopech appears to be lagging behind his regular schedule this spring. His availability for the season’s opening might be in question primarily due to some personal issues he faced in January coupled with minor ‘general inflammation’ experienced during the series before.
Despite the setback, there doesn’t seem to be a grave cause of concern. An MRI reveals no structural complications in his forearm, which underwent a Tommy John procedure back in September 2018. Some deviation from his regular off-season workout schedule has seen him limited to long-tosses from a 90-foot distance during the initial week of the camp.
While the start of the upcoming season might witness him on the injured list, circumstances may potentially take a turn for the better in a short span of time.