Translation result.
Hye-seong Kim of the Los Angeles Dodgers was optioned to the minors after a promising start to the season gave way to a sustained slump.
On May 30, the Dodgers removed Kim from their 26-man roster and sent him to Triple-A Oklahoma City. They re-signed free agent Santiago Espinal and added him to the big-league roster.
Kim wasn’t on the Opening Day roster but was called up last month to cover for an injured Mookie Betts. He started strong, batting .296 in April.
But his momentum stalled in May. His strikeout rate climbed and his batting average slipped to .259. In recent games he often appeared tentative at the plate.
“Kim’s swing has changed from earlier in the season,” manager Dave Roberts said. “He’s using his lower half less, and his whiff rate has increased.”
“Right now he’s been a bit passive,” Roberts added. “If he can play every day in the minors without pressure and rebuild his confidence, he should be able to get back to his previous form.”
Local outlets say the move wasn’t purely about on-field performance. With regulars like Enrique Hernández and Teoscar Hernández sidelined by injuries, the Dodgers needed roster flexibility and valued Espinal’s ability to handle multiple infield and outfield spots.
That doesn’t mean the Dodgers have downgraded Kim’s long-term value. They appear to believe he’ll progress more quickly by getting consistent at-bats in Triple-A than by taking limited reps on the big-league bench.
The demotion is a setback for Kim, but it also gives him a chance to reset. If he regains his swing balance and confidence, there’s a clear path back to the majors.
Photo: AFP / Yonhap
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