Korean free agent to MLB, according to reports

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The Los Angeles Dodgers struck again in their pursuit of a high-profile international free agent, signing infielder Hyeseong Kim on Friday, according to multiple media outlets in South Korea.

Kim, 25, is not expected to impact an already star-studded Dodgers lineup; instead, he was marketed as a glove-first player who can man multiple spots in the infield. He joins an already crowded crowd of infielders on the Dodgers roster, with Mookie Betts expected to serve as the full-time shortstop, Gavin Lux at second base and veterans Miguel Rojas and Chris Taylor also under contract.

Still, Rojas, Taylor and third baseman Max Muncy are all free agents after this season, and Kim also provides a safety if performance or injuries elsewhere dictate that Betts moves from shortstop, as he did last season when he returned to right field after suffering a fracture. hand.

Kim received one three-year, $12.5 million contractwith a club option for two years and an additional $9.5 million.

Friday was the last day of the posting period for Kim, who will join the defending World Series champions in the major league city with the largest Korean population. The club has been aggressive in retaining its title-winning club, adding lefty Blake Snell on a $182 million contract and re-signing outfielder Teoscar Hernández, who was scheduled to be reintroduced at a press conference Friday.

Hyeseong Kim statistics

Kim is a lifetime .304 hitter in the KBO and has played the last six seasons for Kiwoom. He hit a career-high 11 home runs as a 24-year-old last season, topping his previous high of seven, accomplished twice. His last four seasons were excellent from an on-base perspective, hitting between .304 and .335 with an OBP between .372 and .396.

Still, it’s still an open question how much he’ll win for power — even of a difference-to-gap variety — in the big leagues. Then again, the Dodgers have plenty of that already, so maybe this was his ideal destination.

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