The Los Angeles Dodgers have navigated the early stages of the 2025 MLB season with resilience, sitting near the top of the National League despite a barrage of injuries-especially to their pitching staff.
Offensively, the lineup has held firm, and unexpected contributors have helped fill the gaps. Chief among them is Kim Hye-seong, the 25-year-old South Korean infielder who is forcing a roster dilemma no one saw coming.
Signed during the offseason to a three-year, $12.5 million deal, Kim was expected to provide depth and versatility. Instead, he’s delivered elite production in a short stint, batting .452/.485/1.066 across just 31 at-bats.
In that span, he’s recorded one home run, five RBIs, and three stolen bases-emerging as a spark plug for a Dodgers offense that’s lacked consistency in places.
However, Kim’s strong showing is now colliding with the return timeline of two key Dodgers: Teoscar Hernandez and Tommy Edman. Both were sidelined with minor injuries but are expected to be back in action soon.
Edman, according to the club, won’t need a rehab assignment. Hernandez, meanwhile, is set to complete one before rejoining the team. Once they’re activated, LA will need to clear space, and Kim’s lack of experience may work against him.
Dodgers face roster logjam as injured stars return
The Dodgers‘ lineup already features proven stars like Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Shohei Ohtani, alongside regulars like Max Muncy and Miguel Rojas.
That leaves little flexibility for a player like Kim, despite his red-hot start. Manager Dave Roberts and the front office must weigh immediate performance against long-term investment and veteran loyalty.
“Kim is doing a fantastic job,” Roberts said recently. “He’s made the most of every opportunity, but with guys coming back, we’re going to have some very difficult conversations.”
Kim’s case is complicated by the fact that he’s still acclimating to MLB pitching, and his success, while impressive, is based on a small sample size. Still, it’s not easy to overlook what he’s done when given the chance, especially on a team trying to weather multiple injuries to its pitching staff.
Meanwhile, Hernandez and Edman were both producing before their respective injuries. Hernandez brought power to the middle of the lineup, while Edman remained one of LA’s most dependable defenders and base runners.
Given their track records, it’s likely they’ll be reinserted into the starting lineup quickly-potentially sending Kim to the bench or even off the active roster entirely.
Even if that happens, Kim has made a strong case for future consideration, whether in Los Angeles or elsewhere. He’s shown he belongs at the major league level and could be a valuable depth piece-or even trade asset-as the season progresses.
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