Breaking Down The Dodgers’ Infield And Hyeseong Kim Signing

The Dodgers signed soon-to-be 26-year-old Korean utilityman Hyeseong Kim Friday, bolstering the team’s depth both in the infield and outfield, but also sparking some questions about the roster’s structure as it heads into the 2025 season.

Kim and the Dodgers agreed to a guaranteed three-year, $12.5 million contract with options for two additional seasons that could boost the contract to $22 million.

Hyeseong Kim Can Fill Many Roles for the Dodgers

In Kim, the Dodgers are adding a defensive stalwart, who has been named as the KBO’s top player at both second base and shortstop, the only infielder in league history to do so. He also has played third base, left field and right field.

While there are no immediate answers as to where exactly Kim’s spot on the Dodgers’ 2025 roster will be, one question has been answered by Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes: “Why?”

Not so fast, says Gomes, though.

Touche, Brandon. After a season where the Dodgers were cleaned out of starting pitchers, it’s never a bad idea to have too much depth. But just what are the Dodgers looking at with their infield situation going into 2025? Let’s have a look.

With other infielders on the roster such as Gavin Lux, Miguel Rojas and Chris Taylor, there’s the thought that the Dodgers might swing a trade to create room for Kim.

A Crowded Infield: How Lux, Rojas and Taylor Fit Into the Big Picture

Gavin Lux

• Lux, 27, is a second-year arbitration-eligible player in 2025, a year after making $1.225 million.
• Hit .251/.320/.383 with 10 HRs, 50 RBIs and 139 runs scored in 139 games played, all career highs.
• This after missing the entire 2023 season with a torn ACL in his right knee.
• Could be a free agent as early as 2027.
• Able to play both second base and shortstop.

Miguel Rojas

• Rojas, who will be 36 on Opening Day, is on track to enter his third season with the Dodgers after the franchise exercised a $5 million team option.
• Earned $5.75 million in 2024, completing a two-year, $11 million contract he signed on Feb. 5, 2023.
• 2024 was arguably the best season of his career, hitting .283/.337/.410 with 6 HRs, 36 RBIs, 8 steals and 41 runs scored in 103 games.
• Spent 82 games at shortstop, and also spent time at second base (13 games), third base (11), and even played one game at first base and as a pitcher.

Chris Taylor

• Taylor, 34, is expected to enter the final season of a four-year, $60 million contract he signed on Dec. 1, 2021 – paying him $13 million.
• Many feel as if Taylor could be the odd man out after a down season, where he hit .202/.298/.300 with 4 HRs, 23 RBIs and 5 steals with 28 runs scored in 87 games.
• Filled in primarily at left field (48 games; 25 starts) during the 2024 season, and also at third base (24; 15), second base (21; 14) and center field (8;2).

The profile of Taylor matches that of the one Kim presumably brings to the Dodgers in 2025. Though, Kim comes at a much cheaper price. The Dodgers hold a club option of $12 million for Taylor.

Could Kike Hernandez Make a Return?

A year ago, the Dodgers brought Kike Hernandez back on a one-year, $4 million contract, and he delivered both on and off the field.

Kike, 33, hit .229/.281/.373 with 12 HRs and 42 RBIs with 44 runs scored in 126 games.

The value in Kike is his ability to play literally everywhere. He played primarily at third base (71 games; 60 starts), but also at first base (18; 7), left field (15; 8), center field (11; 6), second base (10; 6) and shortstop (9; 6). He even pitched in four games, posting a 4.15 ERA in 4.1 innings pitched, allowing two runs and five hits against 18 batters.

Spotrac projects Kike to have a market value of one-year, $2.769 million.

Kike, of course, brings much more value to the Dodgers than what his performance on the field shows. He’s arguably the most outspoken player on the roster, and easily one of the biggest fan favorites.

The Future of the Dodgers’ Infield

Kim is the guy – plain and simple. This is the future of the Dodgers. Don’t ignore the fact that Shohei Ohtani personally recruited him to the Dodgers. The players both employ CAA Sports as their agent, making it simple for Ohtani to help persuade Kim to join the Dodgers, his childhood favorite MLB team.

The Dodgers designated Diego Cartaya for assignment to add Kim to the roster. Should a trade be found for Cartaya, it’s not out of the realm of possibility for Taylor to be coupled in on a trade to an interested team.

Lux is expected to start alongside Mookie Betts in the infield.

If Kike really wants to be a Dodger, his signing could come after Spring Training begins and 60-day injured list moves are made to the roster, as mentioned by David Vassegh Friday on Dodger Talk. This could create the necessary roster opening to bring Kike back.

Your Turn: What do you think about the Dodgers’ infield plans? Tell us below in the comments!