Kim Hye-seong, a 27-year-old player for the Los Angeles Dodgers, is set to start the season in the minor leagues for the second year in a row, as announced by the team on the 23rd. The Dodgers confirmed that he will be sent to their Triple-A affiliate, the Oklahoma City Dodgers, which suggests that he will not be included in the 26-man roster for the MLB opening day. Despite a strong performance in spring training, where he achieved a batting average of .407 with 11 hits in 27 at-bats, 1 home run, 6 RBIs, and 5 stolen bases, concerns about his strikeout rate have influenced this decision.

The analysis from MLB.com highlighted that Kim's high strikeout frequency during the spring training (8 strikeouts in 30 plate appearances) raised red flags for the Dodgers, prompting them to focus on correcting aspects of his swing. Additionally, competition for the second base spot from Alex Friedland seems to favor Friedland, who displayed excellent plate discipline by drawing 11 walks over 56 plate appearances despite also facing strikes. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts had previously acknowledged Kim’s limited game exposure but indicated that further discussions were needed before final decisions were made, which ultimately led to Kim's demotion to the minors.

Looking ahead, Kim Hye-seong's performance at the 2026 World Baseball Classic, where he batted only .083, further complicates the situation as he managed just 1 hit in 12 at-bats, alongside 5 strikeouts. Having signed a 3-year, $12.5 million contract with the Dodgers before the 2025 season, Kim's rookie year saw him participate in 71 games with a .280 batting average. With the Dodgers scheduled to face the Arizona Diamondbacks on the 27th, the team is regrouping with Yoshinobu Yamamoto set to start on opening day, while Kim’s journey in the minors awaits as he seeks to regain his place in the major leagues.