Hyeseong

Kim

The 27-year-old speedster drew a two-out walk off of Tomoyuki Sugano in the third inning and swiped second base but was left stranded there. He then singled in the fifth and again pilfered second but the Dodgers couldn’t cash him in. For the season, he’s now slashing .286/.407/.476 with a homer, three RBI and three stolen bases in his first 27 plate appearances. If he continues to see regular action while Mookie Betts is sidelined, Kim’s speed makes him a viable option in deeper mixed leagues.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts continues mixing things up with Mookie Betts (oblique) on the injured list, moving Hernández up to the cleanup spot to face Mets southpaw David Peterson. Miguel Rojas and Santiago Espinal are also on the lineup card with lefties Hyeseong Kim and Alex Freeland riding the bench.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters Rojas was scratched to tend to a family matter. Hyeseong Kim takes over at shortstop and will bat eighth in his place.

Kim draws his first start at shortstop in place of an injured Mookie Betts (oblique) after being called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City over the weekend. It was Miguel Rojas at shortstop during Sunday’s series finale against the Nationals. The 27-year-old’s speed makes him an intriguing pickup in deeper mixed leagues since he should receive plenty of opportunities over the next few weeks with both Betts and Tommy Edman (ankle) on the shelf.

With Mookie Betts (oblique) landing on the injured list on Sunday, Kim will get an opportunity with the Dodgers. It’s unclear how the playing time will shake out at shortstop between he and Miguel Rojas, but his speed makes him an intriguing option for fantasy purposes if he winds up seeing the bulk of the action.

Kim entered the spring as the favorite to start at second base while Tommy Edman was sidelined, so this one comes as a major surprise, especially after he hit .407 (11-for-27) with a homer, six RBI and five stolen bases during Cactus League play. Santiago Espinal and Alex Freeland are expected to function in a platoon at the position now that Kim has been demoted.

Espinal has officially made Los Angeles’ season-opening roster as a reserve infielder. The 31-year-old journeyman has looked rejuvenated this spring, hitting .389 (14-for-36) with two homers, 13 RBI and one steal in 15 Cactus League contests. He’ll help solidify second base along with speedster Hyseseong Kim while Tommy Edman (ankle) is on the injured list to open the season. He can be safely ignored for fantasy purposes.

Kim’s clutch homer came against Japanese reliever Hiromi Itoh, the reigning Sawamura Award winner, in the fourth inning. It left is bat at 106 mph and traveled an impressive 410 feet, per Statcast. The 27-year-old speedster has made some noise in Dodgers camp this spring, showcasing overhauled swing mechanics, which have enabled him to drive the ball more consistently. He’s poised to open the regular season as Los Angeles’ starting second baseman while Tommy Edman recovers from offseason ankle surgery. He could deliver some sneaky early-season fantasy value, especially in deeper formats.

According to California Post’s Jack Harris, “They focused on Kim’s legs, trying to get [him] to use the ground to generate more power and stability. Then, they honed in on the alignment of his torso and back, making subtle adjustments aimed at keeping Kim squared up to the ball longer.” Kim struggled in his first MLB season last year, finishing with a .280 batting average, but a .699 OPS and a 30.6 percent strikeout rate. If he’s able to handle breaking balls better this season, Kim could start at second base until Tommy Edman (ankle) returns.

Kim is 6-for-13 so far, so he’s exiting having made a nice early impression. He’s competing with Miguel Rojas and Alex Freeland to be the Dodgers’ second baseman with Tommy Edman out.