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Los Angeles Times
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Los Angeles Times
Hyeseong Kim has arrived, and the Dodgers need to make sure he's here to stay
His smile has brightened the locker room, his bat has energized a once-impotent segment of the lineup and his speed has transformed their offense. Hyeseong Kim belongs in the major leagues. Manager Dave Roberts was asked the other night about the 'difficult decision' the Dodgers will have to make on Kim when utilityman Tommy Edman and outfielder Teoscar Hernández return from the injured list in the next couple of weeks, but nothing about this decision should be difficult. Kim will still belong in the major leagues. There won't be enough at-bats for him? The Dodgers have to find them. He can gain more experience in the minors? A 26-year-old who played seven-plus seasons in the Korean Baseball Organization before he signed with the Dodgers, Kim isn't a typical rookie. President of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said part of the reason catcher Dalton Rushing was called up this week was because of the competition in the National League West? The same logic should be applied to Kim's situation. Make liberal use of the injured list. Release Chris Taylor. Do whatever is necessary for Kim to remain in Los Angeles. 'How he's playing,' Roberts acknowledged, 'certainly helps his case.' Shohei Ohtani homered twice in a 19-2 victory over the Athletics at Dodger Stadium on Thursday night. Both times, Kim was on base. Ohtani, who leads off for the Dodgers, drove in only 10 runs in his first 30 games of the season. The bottom of the order wasn't hitting or drawing walks In the first 12 games Ohtani played since Kim was called up from triple-A Oklahoma City, Ohtani collected 18 runs batted in. Kim batted eighth or ninth in each of the eight games he started through Thursday, and he'd already been driven home by Ohtani five times. The only player Ohtani has driven in more this season: Ohtani. 'A lot easier to pitch to Shohei when nobody's on base,' Roberts said. 'Recently, certainly with Kim and his ability to get on base, there's always traffic.' Kim entered the Freeway Series opener on Friday batting .429, a pleasant surprise considering he looked completely overmatched at the plate in spring training. His ability to make contact has enhanced his greatest weapon, his legs. 'He's really talented,' third baseman Max Muncy said. 'He can do a lot of really special things that you can't see from a lot of players.' That game-changing speed was on display in just his second major league game when he was deployed as a ninth-inning pinch runner with a one-run deficit against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park. Kim stole second base and reached third on a dropped third strike, positioning him within 90 feet of the tying run. The next two batters struck out and the Dodgers lost the game, but the cameo performance was a preview of what was to come. In his first 12 major league games, Kim stole three bases and plated nine runs. Three of his first 12 hits were infield hits. 'I tried to figure out what my role is in this organization, and I'm just trying to control what I can control,' Kim said through an interpreter. Dodgers coaches also believe Kim's speed has influenced how opponents attack Ohtani. One particular example that was cited was Ohtani's three-run, ninth-inning home run in a 14-11 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on May 9. Kim was on second base and Michael Conforto was on first when Ohtani came to the plate with one out and the score level, 11-11. Walking Ohtani would have moved the go-ahead run to third base, and with Kim's speed, any ball put in play by the next batter would have likely resulted in a run. Diamondbacks reliever Ryan Thompson pitched to Ohtani, who launched a 1-2 pitch into the stands in right-center. 'With the speed dynamic [of Kim], it creates stress,' Roberts said. 'He can steal a base, go first to third. It certainly opens some things up for the top of the order.' The Dodgers have scored an average of 7.3 runs per game since Kim joined the team. In the process, he's become a beloved figure in the clubhouse, overcoming a language barrier to form bonds with a wide range of players that includes everyone from Ohtani to Mookie Betts. 'That started in spring training,' Muncy said. 'He was there with a couple of us and just immediately fit right in. He likes to have fun. He's always smiling, he's always laughing. He's really fun to have out there.' With a three-year deal that could be extended by the Dodgers for an additional two seasons, Kim figures to be a part of their future. But he's already a reason for why they're clicking now, and the returns of Edman and Hernández shouldn't change that.
Los Angeles Times
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Los Angeles Times
Hyeseong Kim shares a moment to remember with Shohei Ohtani in Dodgers' win
MIAMI — The Dodgers' biggest player waited for their smallest one in the visiting dugout at loanDepot Park on Monday night. Then, the two shared a celebratory embrace. Like many Asian-born players in recent years, Hyeseong Kim has long looked up to Shohei Ohtani. The South Korean infielder followed the Japanese superstar's career while beginning his own baseball journey in the Korean Baseball Organization. When Kim signed with the Dodgers after being posted for major league clubs during the offseason, the chance to play alongside Ohtani and the club's other collection of superstar players was one of the most enticing appeals. In the Dodgers' 7-4 win over the Miami Marlins on Monday, Kim finally shared a starting lineup with Ohtani for the first time, getting his first big-league start after being called up this weekend. And during the top of the fifth inning, the two co-starred in a sequence that put the game out of reach — Kim collecting his first MLB hit on a leadoff single, before Ohtani hit a home run that made the score 5-0. After rounding the bases following his ninth blast of the season, Ohtani returned to the dugout and was greeted by a line of high-fives from teammates. Trailing a few steps behind him, Kim did the same. When the two finally met — Ohtani's hulking 6-foot-3 build towering over Kim's wiry 5-foot-10 frame — Ohtani put both his hands on his new teammate's helmet, then cracked a wide smile while playfully jumping up and down. A moment to remember; on a day that, for the 26-year-old Kim, was full of them in an impressive on-field display. Drawn into the starting lineup to face Marlins starter Sandy Alcantara, a former Cy Young Award winner working his way back from a Tommy John surgery, Kim flashed all the tools that prompted the Dodgers to give him a three-year, $12.5-million contract. He recorded two hits, following his opposite-field line drive in the fifth with a bloop RBI single an inning later. He stole his second career base, racing to second two pitches before Ohtani's home run just as he had as a pinch-runner the night before. He almost had a defensive web gem at second base, as well, charging to field a slow grounder in the eighth inning before flipping a toss with his glove that Freddie Freeman dropped at first base. The Dodgers (24-11) had plenty of other contributors Monday. They got two hits each from Freeman (including a third-inning home run), Mookie Betts (his fifth multi-hit game out of the last six), Andy Pages and Teoscar Hernández (who left the game early with left hamstring tightness). They got four solid innings of bulk relief from Ben Casparius, the rookie right-hander who has been stretched out to compensate for the Dodgers' banged-up rotation. But no one's performance was as meaningful as Kim's. He got his first career hit, his first career RBI and a brief, joyful moment celebrating with the best player in the game.
Korea Herald
15-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
From 'text hip' to 'writing hip': How handwriting has become the new cool
For Park Min-ha, 28, reading has always been a hobby. But in the wake of Han Kang's historic Nobel Prize in literature win last year, her interest has deepened. Lately, she has adopted a new habit: "pilsa," the practice of writing passages from books by hand. "Just reading a book and moving on didn't feel like I had truly absorbed it," Park said. "Writing a full review felt like too much work, so instead, I started jotting down lines that resonated with me." She finds the process meditative. "Slowing down to write by hand helps me reflect on the message more deeply and remember it longer." Park is hardly alone. Kwak Do-gyu, 20, a left-handed pitcher for the Kia Tigers in the Korean Baseball Organization, was seen practicing pilsa on MBC reality TV show "I Live Alone" in an episode that aired Dec. 20, last year. Concerned about overworking his pitching hand, Kwak carefully copied text with his right hand instead. A self-described digital native, Kwak grew up surrounded by screens, making his embrace of such an analog practice all the more striking. "Ever since I started pilsa, I've felt noticeably calmer," he shared. Park and Kwak are just two among many in a surprising trend. In a digital-first world, what was once a niche literary exercise has transformed into a full-fledged movement for the publishing industry in 2025. Surge of pilsa books from quotes, lyrics, constitutions This growing enthusiasm for pilsa is clearly reflected in the publishing industry. Recently, an influx of books designed specifically for handwriting practice has hit the market. These books are structured with text on the left-hand page and blank space on the right, allowing readers to copy passages by hand. While earlier pilsa books primarily focused on poetry and prose, more recent offerings have expanded significantly. The trend now spans a wide range of genres, from famous quotes and philosophical writings to novels and lyrics by popular musicians, such as pop-rock sensation Day6, as well as solo sweethearts IU and Taeyeon. Recent political turmoil has even seen books like 'Copying the Constitution of the Republic of Korea' gain traction. According to Kyobo Book Center, the number of new pilsa titles increased from 57 in 2023 to 81 in 2024 over the year -- a 42 percent increase. Meanwhile, sales of pilsa books surged by an astonishing 692.8 percent. The trend is thriving on social media, with Instagram posts tagged with pilsa rising from an accumulated 650,000 in September 2023 to a total of 701,000 as of this month. 'We're seeing an 'analog boom,' especially among people in their 20s and 30s,' said a Kyobo spokesperson. 'Beyond just reading, there's a growing trend of carefully handwriting passages, decorating them and sharing them on social media.' From text hip to writing hip: Handwriting is the new 'it' In particular, 'One Day One Page' (Wisdom House) has been leading bestseller lists at major bookstores since its release in March 2024. The collection of pilsa practice, along with author Yoo Sun-kyong's commentary and tips on writing, sold over 250,000 copies in just six months. It ranked 14th on the annual Kyobo Book Center's bestseller list last year. If it hadn't been for the Han Kang boom in the latter half of the year, it likely would have secured the ninth spot, according to the bookstore. The book's editor, Lee Sun-hee, said the initial concept was developed around 2021 to offer practical content that people could easily apply to their daily routines. "At that time, due to the pandemic, many people found themselves spending more time at home and alone. They grew fatigued by the overwhelming amount of content they were consuming, and I heard similar feedback from those around me." As a result, she believes people began turning their attention to practical activities that could be done in small, manageable chunks of time. "When we think of handwriting, it's easy to imagine simply copying sentences, but we wanted to clearly highlight the benefits of enhancing vocabulary and literacy through this practice," she added. Another editor at Muhakdongne Publishing, which released a special edition of a pilsa book on Han Kang's novels, commented, 'Along with the rise of the 'text hip' trend, handwriting has solidified its place as a new cultural phenomenon.' 'The process of copying text by hand and reflecting on it offers a healing experience, stimulating emotions in the fast-paced society. (I think) the handwriting craze won't be dying down anytime soon." New digital detox and literacy boost 'Text hip" refers to the idea that reading is fashionable. It became a major phenomenon here in 2024, fueled by the success of the Seoul International Book Fair and the Nobel Prize win. Now, critics say, it has evolved into 'writing hip.' "Handwriting is a very analog activity, and in today's digital age, people seem to be seeking comfort through analog practices,' said cultural critic Ha Jae-geun. The extremely slow act of handwriting has a meditative effect. The simple and repetitive nature of handwriting provides comfort and calm, helping to relieve stress and soothe the mind, as KBO southpaw Kwak mentioned. In ancient times, it was considered a religious ritual, similar to copying Buddhist scriptures. Cultural critic Kim Heon-sik described the act as a kind of 'digital detox.' 'It's like zoning out. While trying to meditate, busy thoughts might arise, but when you focus on something else, you can temporarily forget them." Another benefit of handwriting, according to Ha, is a boost in literacy. 'People are used to fragmented, short digital information, and a concern about a decline in literacy has been growing,' said Ha. "As a result, there's a desire to fill that intellectual void through handwriting." Encountering well-written sentences helps improve writing skills. While the words and expressions used in everyday life are somewhat limited, encountering unfamiliar words and phrases broadens linguistic range, improving vocabulary. "Through handwriting, people rediscover words they knew but had forgotten, helping to enhance their expressive abilities,' Ha said. 'Younger generations are interpreting handwriting as an act to develop their intellectual abilities and address this sense of literacy crisis.' hwangdh@
New York Times
28-02-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Hyeseong Kim's challenge: Adapting his swing in time to make the Dodgers' roster
PHOENIX — Hyeseong Kim chose this path not despite its difficulty, but because of it. He has insisted that his decision to join a crowded Los Angeles Dodgers infield this winter was fueled by the challenge ahead, choosing the reigning World Series champions over other offers that would have allowed him more agency over his transition from the Korean Baseball Organization. Advertisement 'Quite frankly, even if I chose any other teams, it would've been a challenge,' Kim said through interpreter Dean Kim on a recent morning in Arizona. 'But if I wanted to go against a challenge, I wanted to do it with the best team in the league. There just isn't any easy way to do this, so I wanted to do it with the Dodgers.' Now comes the hard part. Kim, a slick-fielding 26-year-old infielder, has largely fit in well during his first spring training. Teammates gravitate to his affable personality, enjoying his personalized text messages at the end of each day and finding joy in discovering that Kim cuts his own hair. Scouts have noted his defensive skills have ported over quite quickly, even when factoring in the different shifts and defensive positioning than he was used to with the Kiwoom Heroes. It's his bat that is looking to catch up. The Dodgers gave Kim a three-year, $12.5 million deal this winter — and essentially moved on from a productive everyday second baseman in Gavin Lux in the process — partly because they believed Kim's skill set would translate well even against advanced major-league breaking balls and velocity. 'He has bat-to-ball skills, which is something that can't really be taught,' hitting coach Aaron Bates said earlier this spring. 'He has the ingredients to be great. It's just kind of fine-tuning things.' The early returns have not been encouraging, albeit in a limited sample. His first taste of major-league pitching came on the back fields, where he waved over the first three Tyler Glasnow breaking balls he saw. Further tests haven't produced much fruit, either. In 12 Cactus League at-bats entering play Thursday, he had one hit — an infield single on a groundball he rolled over to the right side. The Dodgers have completely revamped Kim's swing as part of their onboarding process, looking to emphasize his bat-to-ball skills while believing there is more power than his career .403 slugging percentage with the Heroes suggests. Pairing even a little more power with his bat-to-ball skills, speed, and defensive versatility (he's also worked at shortstop and center field this spring and has experience at third base) could make him a valuable piece for a title defense. Advertisement The focus, Kim said, has been on his bat path, as he hopes to keep the barrel of his bat in the zone as long as possible to make consistent contact and allow his athleticism — a commonly noted fun fact around Camelback Ranch is that Kim's body fat percentage is the lowest on the club — to take over. His swing remains a work in progress, with the 5-foot-7, 175-pounder saying he feels it's '20, 30 percent to where I want it to be.' 'It's supposed to feel a little awkward sometimes when you're making adjustments, it's not going to feel great,' Bates said. 'He's been great the whole time. He's all in. He's been really impressive in that sense.' Having those changes take effect requires reps, manager Dave Roberts has said. The possibility remains that those reps could happen away from Los Angeles, with Roberts suggesting to reporters this week that the door isn't closed on Kim opening the season in the minors. It's the same door that general manager Brandon Gomes left open when discussing Kim weeks ago at the spring training media days. 'I just think there's so much unknown between now and Opening Day, seeing how the roster plays out and how he looks,' Gomes said. 'But we're excited with what he's brought to the table, the energy, the defense has been really impressive and then the work ethic.' It's a chance Kim took on himself this winter. At least one other offer, from the Angels, would have required Kim's consent before he would be optioned to the minors. His deal with the Dodgers does not afford him that privilege. The Dodgers have alternatives. While Kim appeared slated to see most of his time at second base, Tommy Edman, Kiké Hernández and Miguel Rojas are all locks for the Opening Day roster with experience at the position. The Dodgers have sought to teach Kim center field to give them another left-handed option at the position, but they still have depth shored up there. Kim appears to be in a four-way battle for two spots on the roster alongside Chris Taylor, Andy Pages and James Outman. Advertisement Taylor is still guaranteed at least $17 million between his $13 million salary in the final year of his deal and a $4 million buyout. He still has some defensive versatility to bolster his case, despite a crash in his offensive production in recent seasons. Pages was the most productive of the bunch offensively as a rookie but has shown some defensive lapses in center field that have continued into this spring. Outman finished third in Rookie of the Year voting two years ago and has been the Opening Day center fielder each of the past two seasons, but he has not made consistent enough contact to stick in the majors. Then there's Kim, whom the Dodgers have taken a gamble on and still has an adjustment process to complete. Kim's age and contract structure seemingly give the Dodgers some grace when it comes to the long-term view, but they're eager to see how he handles the challenge. Just take a tradition that went viral early in camp but started long before that. Kim's workouts with the Dodgers' infield have included an extensive number of groundballs headed by Mookie Betts at shortstop, and usually finish with each position completing a non-routine play. If they don't each successfully complete their play in order, the game starts over. Mookie starting the Dodger chants for Hyeseong. 🥹 — Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) February 16, 2025 They've always slotted Kim last, raising the stakes for the infielder. Then, they began to integrate chants, hoping to imitate at least some of what the new stage at Dodger Stadium will bring. 'We just want him to be comfortable and understand he's playing for the Dodgers,' Betts said. 'There's no way to simulate any type of high-leverage situation here. That was the closest way to do it but let him know we've got his back.' 'He's been perfect,' Rojas said. Now, the Dodgers are banking on him handling the offensive challenge with similar aplomb. Advertisement 'There's nothing easy about playing baseball in a new environment alone,' Kim said. 'Baseball is already a hard sport to play. But at the end of the day, being able to make my adjustments and the feeling of accomplishment I get from that will be greater than anything.' (Top photo of Hyeseong Kim: Norm Hall / Getty Images)
Yahoo
23-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dodgers giving Korean rookie Hyeseong Kim every chance to succeed
At the end of infield workouts most days during spring training, the Dodgers do a live-fungo drill in which every player has to field a ball cleanly and make an accurate throw to first base. If one fielder bobbles a grounder or makes an errant throw, they all have to start over again. Whether it's rookie hazing, mettle testing, or both, the Dodgers usually force new infielder Hyeseong Kim, the 26-year-old from South Korea, to go last, with other infielders chanting, 'Let's go Dodgers!' as the grounder is hit in an attempt to rattle Kim while shortstop Mookie Betts is encouraging fans to join in on the chant one day. 'We kind of make him work a little bit and get him used to feeling the pressure in those situations, trying to simulate two outs in the ninth inning, and he's gotta make a big play,' Dodgers utility man Tommy Edman said. 'I don't think he's missed one yet.' Roki Sasaki, the highly coveted 23-year-old right-hander who is making the jump from Japan to the major leagues, is generating the most curiosity and intrigue in Dodgers camp, but Kim, the slick-fielding utility man who won four Gold Glove Awards in the Korean Baseball Organization, is a close second. Will the left-handed-hitting Kim, a lean 5-foot-10, 176-pounder who was a .304 hitter in six-plus KBO seasons, be able to handle the higher velocity and nastier breaking balls and off-speed pitches that he'll see in the U.S.? Will he hit for more power in the major leagues than he did in Korea, where he produced just 37 homers and 150 doubles in 953 games, or continue to be more of a slap hitter who relies on contact and speed? Read more: 'Scary moment, but it's all good': Dodgers' Bobby Miller on mend from liner to head Will Kim be able to play shortstop, third base and the outfield well enough to develop into the utility player the Dodgers envision? Or will his potential defensive shortcomings at those spots relegate him to second base? It will take several weeks, perhaps months, for those questions to be answered, but after two weeks of camp, veteran shortstop Miguel Rojas is sure of at least one thing: 'He can be a Gold Glove Award winner, a Platinum Glove winner, at second base — I can tell you that right now,' Rojas said. 'The guy really makes the plays. He seems really athletic. He turns double plays really well. He's not flashy at all. He just catches the ball and makes the play. I'm excited. He has the opportunity to do something special.' Kim's best position is clearly second base, as evidenced by the hardware he has earned and the KBO highlight reels he has produced, but the Dodgers plan to fully test his versatility this spring before scrapping the utility man idea. Kim played shortstop in Saturday's exhibition game against Kansas City, booting a first-inning grounder for an error before fielding three grounders cleanly and throwing to first base in the third and fourth innings. Manager Dave Roberts said Kim will also get starts in center field, a position he has never played in Korea, the corner outfield spots and third base. 'I think that we've got a lot of different options,' Roberts said of Kim's defensive ability. 'We know that he can play second. James [Outman] and Andy [Pages] are competing in center field, and Tommy [Edman] can play there, but there's not a lot of downside to having another left-handed option that can play center. 'I think the floor is, we know he can play second base, but we can kind of experiment and see what his comfort level is in other spots.' Read more: Tony Gonsolin shows encouraging signs in return to mound: 'Overall, just good results' How much Kim plays could ultimately be determined by how well he hits, and how well he hits will be determined by how well he adjusts to pitching in the major leagues, where the average fastball velocity of about 94 mph last season was considerably higher than the KBO average of 90 mph. Kim, working with hitting coaches Robert Van Scoyoc and Aaron Bates, has already incorporated several mechanical changes to his swing, and Edman, who played with Kim on South Korea's 2023 World Baseball Classic team, said Kim looks stronger and more physical now than he did two years ago. 'I know the higher velocity is going to be a little bit of a transition for him, but I think his swing will adapt well, since it isn't super long, like a lot of swing-and-miss guys have,' Edman said. 'He's a more contact-oriented guy, and I think that will allow him to adjust to the velo a little bit easier than someone else.' Some of Kim's adjustments will come well before he steps into the batter's box — they'll come in the video room and in meetings with coaches and members of the analytics staff. 'He's in a league where everybody has really good stuff, and they're gonna figure him out and try to attack his weaknesses,' Rojas said. 'So how quickly he can adjust back to the league is going to be important.' The Dodgers took a bit of a gamble when they signed Kim to a three-year, $12.5-million deal with options for 2028 and 2029 that could boost the deal to $22 million. Only a handful of Korean position players, most notably outfielder Shin-Soo Choo and infielder Ha-Seong Kim, have thrived in the big leagues. But the Dodgers believe Kim has the aptitude, athletic ability and work ethic to be a productive big-league player. 'You see the swing path, the makeup, the work ethic and how coachable he is, and that was through the roof,' Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes said. 'So then you're betting that there's bat-to-ball there … you bet on the athlete and the ability to make adjustments. There's a lot of really good pieces in place. 'But there's really no way to simulate that other than to see major league pitching and high-end pitching that is different from what he's seen in the past. So we'll continue to evaluate and bet on him making the adjustments down the road.' Kim went hitless in four at-bats with one strikeout and one walk in his first two exhibition games, and while it's far too soon to draw any conclusions about his early play, he is eager to collect a few hits. 'Everyone has been welcoming — the transition period hasn't been a problem because everyone has been great to me so far,' Kim said through an interpreter. 'But now it's time to show a bit more results and show that I'm ready to play in Dodger Stadium. Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
