GLENDALE, Ariz. -- With a limited time to make a good impression in his second big league camp, Hyeseong Kim has already given the Dodgers a lot to think about. But for the next two weeks or so, the position battle at second base will proceed without him.
Kim's departure to join Team Korea for the World Baseball Classic appears imminent. He was expected to play in four of the Dodgers' first six Cactus League games, a quota he'll meet by appearing in Thursday afternoon's contest against the White Sox at Camelback Ranch.
Team Korea faces tough competition in Pool C play, which goes from March 5-10 at Tokyo Dome and features defending champion Japan, Chinese Taipei, Australia and Czechia. If Korea doesn't advance past pool play, then Kim could be back at Camelback Ranch with about a week and a half of exhibition games remaining.
Until then, the Dodgers will have to do their best to evaluate Kim's progress from afar.
"There’s no question about his defense, how good he is defensively," manager Dave Roberts said. "It’s more helpful for him to be around us so we can evaluate him every day. We’re not going to get that opportunity. But we’ll be watching and see how the spring plays out for him."
Through his first three spring games, Kim hit 5-for-10, all singles. He drove in four runs, scored two and stole two bases. He also started in center field on Wednesday and made a pair of impressive running catches, his elite speed helping ease his transition to what is still a relatively new position for him.
The ability to be versatile will only help Kim, who's essentially competing with prospect Alex Freeland to be part of the second-base mix because utility man Tommy Edman (right ankle surgery) will begin the season on the injured list. Edman's greatest values lies in his versatility, so if Kim can give the Dodgers additional outfield depth, he could have the inside track for an Opening Day roster spot.
"Hitting and defense, whether it's infield or outfield, I felt like I needed to work on everything in all aspects of the game," Kim said through interpreter Dean Kim earlier in the spring. "And also just preparing for the season so I can make the 26-man roster on the best team, the Dodgers. To be able to make the roster and play every day is my goal."
Kim slashed .280/.314/.385 in 71 games in his first big league season, but he faded after a blistering start at the plate. He had a stint on the IL due to left shoulder bursitis, which impacted his swing, but also had to adjust to the level of play at the Majors, as well as the experience of living in a new country.
Earlier in Spring Training, Kim said he felt "about 70% comfortable" with the changes the Dodgers made to his swing last year. His offseason and spring work has helped him take a step forward from there. In a limited sample of games, Roberts can already see a difference in Kim, both in his confidence and performance.
"I see him handling secondary pitches better, not chasing balls down below the strike zone," Roberts said. "He’s hitting some velocity, which I think he’s always done. … I think he’s closed some of those holes [in his swing]. It’s still early. But what I’ve seen so far from Hyeseong has been really good stuff."
In the Classic, Kim will see a lower level of pitching than he would normally face at the big league level, so the Dodgers may have to account for that when they evaluate his performance for Team Korea. But they still have an idea of what they need to see from his swing, even against non-Major League pitching.
"The hitting guys worked really hard on cleaning some things up for him mechanically," Roberts said. "I do think that translates to Major League pitching. In totality, the WBC pitching is not going to be as good as what he’s going to be seeing. But I do think the changes that he’s made will translate."