ANAHEIM — The transition from Arizona’s Cactus League to the Freeway Series at Angel Stadium usually signals a time for celebration. Still, for the Dodgers, it brought a difficult final Major League roster cut.
On Sunday, the club optioned INF/OF Hyeseong Kim to Triple-A, clearing a path for No. 8 prospect Alex Freeland to claim the final spot on the 26-man roster ahead of Thursday’s Opening Day matchup against Arizona.
Kim scorched spring pitching with a .407 average and a .967 OPS. However, he was away from the Majors while representing Team Korea in the World Baseball Classic. Upon his return, the Dodgers identified a need to refine his strikeout rate (8 K’s in 27 at-bats this spring).
"It’s a gut punch for sure," manager Dave Roberts said of the conversation with Kim. "No one works harder than he does. You're proud that he went to the WBC to represent his country. ... But the driver is him playing six days a week and logging a considerable number of at-bats, which he wouldn't get here."
By sending Kim to the Minors, the Dodgers prioritize his long-term development over his Spring Training hot streak, ensuring he maintains day-to-day consistency before an eventual callup.
While Kim heads to Triple-A, the switch-hitting Freeland is experiencing the thrill of making his first Major League Opening Day roster. Despite a .116 average this spring, Freeland impressed the front office with his swing decisions. He matched his 11 strikeouts with 11 walks in 43 at-bats, showing the plate discipline the club values.
"When Doc told me, I just got the chills because I've just been dreaming this since I was 4 years old," Freeland said. "You could definitely look at Spring Training and look at the stats and say, ‘He had a terrible Spring Training,’ but in my eyes, I worked on certain things and I achieved certain goals."
Freeland credited his growth to his 2025 debut, when he learned that "it's all about the process." He noted that while the game sped up on him last year, he now feels "uber prepared" for his role as a starter against right-handed pitchers. This specialized role brings clarity to the Dodgers' bench.
With Kim optioned, veteran right-hander Miguel Rojas becomes the top candidate at second base against left-handers. Freeland is projected to take the lion’s share of starts at second against right-handed pitching. His inclusion is a bet on his maturity and at-bat quality. During his 2025 big league debut, he struggled with a 36.1% strikeout rate, but his walk and chase rates (11.3% and 19.3%, respectively) remained elite.
"I saw this year and I felt better. ... [Freeland] conducted the at-bat better even when he was struggling," Roberts said. "He didn’t finish off at-bats, but I do think that the process was right. And so I think that’s something we’re willing to bet on."
For a Dodgers team with three-peat aspirations, Freeland’s ability to grind out at-bats from the bottom of the order provides a tactical versatility the club believes is ready for The Show.
But as the preseason concludes in Southern California, that versatility comes at the cost of a disappointing departure. Kim heads to Triple-A with a simple mission: Log the everyday at-bats, wait for the next opportunity and prove he belongs.