Rookie Hyeseong Kim collected his first major league hits and shared a dugout celebration with teammate Shohei Ohtani as the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 7-4 win over the Miami Marlins Monday. Kim singled in the fifth inning before Ohtani hit a home run, pushing the Dodgers to a 5-0 lead.
Kim, a 26-year-old infielder from South Korea, had waited his entire career for a moment like Monday’s sequence. After his first hit, Ohtani was the first player to offer congratulations. When Ohtani returned to the dugout after his home run, he gave Kim a high-five and celebrated with him, a moment captured by television cameras.
"Even he hit his home run, he celebrated for me, he gave me congratulations,” Kim said through an interpreter after going two for four with a stolen base. “It was a great honor."
Ohtani returned the praise, calling Kim's performance "amazing."
Kim joined the Dodgers after signing his three-year, $12.5-million contract in January, choosing the team despite potential for more playing time elsewhere. He has long looked up to Shohei Ohtani and occasionally trained with him in the offseason.
The transition to major league pitching was difficult initially for Kim, who was a career .308 hitter in the Korean Baseball Organization. He struggled in spring training and did not make the opening day roster, starting the year at triple-A Oklahoma City. However, he made adjustments to his swing over the last month, adding more power and consistency.
He was being called up to the big leagues last week following an injury to Tommy Edman. The initial plan was for a short stay, but Kim's performance Monday demonstrated the speed, defensive potential, and versatility that made him a coveted international free agent. His ability to play multiple positions, similar to past versatile Dodgers players like Kike Hernandez, provides the team with options.
Kim also recorded his first career RBI with a bloop single in the sixth inning. Manager Dave Roberts praised Kim's contribution.
“For him to come in here, throw out a knock, get a couple hits, play good defense, it was just really exciting,” Roberts said. “He just adds that spark to our ballclub.”
Other contributions to the win included two hits each from Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, Andy Pages, and Teoscar Hernández. Hernández left the game early with left hamstring tightness, which could pave the way for Kim to receive an extended stay.
Kim is expected to start again Tuesday, potentially at center field, a position he played in triple-A to expand his versatility. Freeman noted Kim's potential impact.
“He could be a nice little weapon,” Freeman said postgame.
