Hyeseong Kim's swing improvements boost his Dodgers roster chances

Dodgers coaches have changed Hyeseong Kim's mechanics this spring and he is 6-for-13 in Cactus League games, including a long home run; the team will monitor his World Baseball Classic play before finalizing roster plans.

Hyeseong Kim has spent this spring retraining his swing as he competes for a role with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Coaches focused on using his legs more and keeping his torso squared to the ball to reduce the twisting that pitchers exploited last year. The 27-year-old arrived on a three-year, $12.5 million contract after a successful KBO career and struggled at times in his first MLB season. His early Cactus League results and live batting-practice outings have shown improvement, though the team will observe his World Baseball Classic participation before making final roster judgments. Key facts: - Dodgers hitting coaches worked on Kim's mechanics, emphasizing ground-up power and keeping him more square at the plate. - Kim is 6-for-13 in four Cactus League games and hit a 384-foot home run in a 7-6 win over the White Sox. - In 2025 he finished with a .280 batting average, a .699 OPS and a 30.6% strikeout rate; his performance trended downward after an early hot stretch and he missed time with a shoulder injury. - With Tommy Edman ruled out to start the season, Kim is being considered for a utility role at second base and in the outfield as a left-handed option. - He will join Team South Korea for the World Baseball Classic, which the Dodgers say will complicate evaluation until his return. Summary: The reported mechanical changes have produced clearer contact and some power in spring play, which has put Kim in position for a more prominent role to open the season. The Dodgers plan to watch his WBC performance but will reserve final roster decisions until he returns and they can continue working with him.