Hyeseong Kim Predicted to Earn Early-Season Call-Up by Dodgers Analyst

Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Hyeseong Kim has been predicted to earn an early-season call-up by team analyst Nomar Garciaparra.

Kim didn't make the Opening Day roster and was optioned to the minors to begin the season. The Dodgers fan favorite sent a message to fans following the disappointing news.

“Hello, fans,” Kim wrote on social media. “I mentioned that my biggest goal for this season was to make the opening roster and show my face in the major leagues throughout the year, but I feel so sorry for not being able to keep that promise right from the start. Still, since the season is long, I’ll work hard to perform well, get called up quickly, and show you all my active presence in the major leagues. Thank you.”

Kim may do just that as Garciaparra believes the former KBO infielder will be with the Dodgers sooner rather than later.

Earlier this week, the former Dodgers shortstop explained why he thinks Kim will earn a promotion in the coming weeks.

JOHN HARTUNG: “Hyeseong Kim—we know that he was optioned down to Triple-A Oklahoma City despite hitting over .400 this spring. He’s kept on hitting early this season for the Comets. He’s making a case to be back here in the big league roster, maybe sooner than later.”

NOMAR… pic.twitter.com/pCTHbTxdrk
— Hyeseong Kim Muse 김혜성 (@HyeseongKimMuse) April 1, 2026

“When you’re down in the minor leagues, you’re supposed to do exactly what [Kim and James Tibbs III] are doing. They’re supposed to make us talk about them and the media talk about them, because they are doing the job, getting the job done, and you force MLB’s hand," Garciaparra said on SportsNet LA.

"Hyeseong Kim has already proven that he can play at the big league level and he made an impact last year. We saw that. And now, going down there, he had an unbelievable spring. You want to continue making us talk about that. You keep doing what you’re doing and he’s going to be up here in no time.

“They said, ‘Why did he get sent down?’ Because they wanted him to continue to get at-bats... Take advantage of them and be ready, because I think he’s another one who’s going to maybe be getting that call-up pretty soon.”

The Dodgers wrestled with Kim's roster spot this spring, but ultimately decided his second-year swing adjustments would have more success with regular at-bats in the minors as opposed to inconsistent playing time in the majors.

“It was probably the toughest decision of the spring,” manager Dave Roberts said of sending Kim to the minor leagues this spring. “There’s no doubt that Hyeseong at some point is going to come help us out.

“I think the driver as far as the outset, is giving Hyeseong the opportunity to play every day, play all over the diamond; he’s going to play some short, some center, some second base there. Whereas here, he wouldn’t have the runway to play more frequently."

Kim has continued making his case to make the big league roster, hitting .364 with an OPS of .853 across 22 at-bats at Triple-A Oklahoma City this year.

The infielder's biggest struggle at the plate last season was his strikeout rate of 30 percent. He has six strikeouts to three walks in five games this season.

If the strikeouts can decrease, Kim will surely be added to the Dodgers roster when an opportunity arises. Alex Freeland, who won the job in spring training, is 2-for-11 (.182) with one home run and an OPS of .902 at the major league level this season.