Despite appearing in just 131 at-bats, "No Regrets About Choosing the Dodgers": Kim Hye-seong's Candid Confession... How Will He Navigate the Final Year of His 16.6 billion won Guaranteed Contract?

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Kim Hye-seong (27, LA Dodgers) reflected on his second Major League season, which ended in disappointment.

On the 19th, Kim Hye-seong posted on his personal social media, "This season was disappointing because I could not show fans much action, and it was a year that deeply disappointed me as well." He added, "Nevertheless, I sincerely thank everyone who has supported me unwaveringly. Next year, I will become a more developed person and baseball player."

In his English-language message, he elaborated on his thoughts in greater detail. Kim Hye-seong stated, "I love the Dodgers. I have never been disappointed with this team," emphasizing, "It was my choice to select the Dodgers, and I have not regretted it for a single moment. The only one I am disappointed in is myself."

Looking back at Kim Hye-seong's performance this year, there were plenty of reasons for regret. It started with competition. After showing potential last year with the Dodgers by posting a .280 batting average, three home runs, 17 RBIs, and 13 stolen bases in 71 games, Kim Hye-seong swung a hot bat in spring training this year, recording a .407 batting average and an OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage) of .967.

However, after returning from participating in the World Baseball Classic (WBC), he ceded his final spot on the opening day roster to Alex Freeland (25) and began the season in Triple-A.

The opportunity came sooner than expected. With Mookie Betts (34) sidelined due to a right oblique injury, Kim Hye-seong was called up to the big leagues in early April. He demonstrated his competitiveness by recording a .296 batting average (16 hits in 54 at-bats), a .371 on-base percentage, an OPS of .760, and five stolen bases in April. In late April, against the Chicago Cubs, he also showcased multi-hits, a timely hit, and a home throw to prevent a run from scoring.

But he could not maintain that momentum. His batting average dropped to .226 and his OPS fell to .553 in May. Ultimately, on May 29, he was notified of another demotion to Triple-A and did not return to the big leagues until the end of the regular season. In Triple-A Oklahoma City, he recorded a .262 batting average, three home runs, 31 RBIs, 15 stolen bases, and an OPS of .675 in 85 games.

His Major League statistics were a .259 batting average (30 hits in 116 at-bats), one home run, 11 RBIs, 16 runs scored, five stolen bases, a .323 on-base percentage, a .328 slugging percentage, and an OPS of .651 in 43 games. This was 28 fewer games than last year.

According to Statcast, his average exit velocity was 85.8 miles per hour (approximately 138.1 km/h), and his hard-hit rate remained at 25.3%. His sprint speed of 28.8 feet per second (8.77 m/s) placed him in the top 14% of Major League players, indicating that his quick legs remained a competitive asset.

There were few opportunities in the fall as well. After the regular season ended, he was called back up to the big leagues and made the National League Division Series (NLDS) roster against the Atlanta Braves, but he appeared only once as a pinch runner, recording one run. He was completely excluded from the NL Championship Series (NLCS) roster against the Milwaukee Brewers.

The U.S. media outlet Dodgers Nation reported, "This year, Kim Hye-seong remained in a limited role. Manager Dave Roberts cited consistency at the plate as a future task."

The team's ending was also bitter. The Dodgers finished the regular season with a record of 100 wins and 62 losses, topping the NL West division to challenge for a third consecutive World Series title, but they were eliminated after suffering four straight losses to Milwaukee in the NLCS.

Now, attention turns to next year. In January 2025, Kim Hye-seong signed a three-year guaranteed contract worth $12.5 million (approximately 16.6 billion won) with the Dodgers. The contract structure consists of a $1 million signing bonus, a $2.5 million salary for 2025, $3.75 million each for 2026 and 2027, and a $1.5 million buyout clause. Additionally, if the Dodgers exercise their team options for 2028 and 2029, the contract can extend to a maximum of five years and $22 million (approximately 29.3 billion won).

Since the 2027 season will be the final year of Kim Hye-seong's guaranteed contract, his performance next year has become even more critical. It is now clear that what Kim Hye-seong must prove is not a choice without regret, but rather the skill level that will make the Dodgers want to continue working with him beyond 2028.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original