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Los Angeles Dodgers insider Doug McKain believes infielder Hyeseong Kim will maintain his roster spot when Mookie Betts returns from the IL.
Kim began the season in Triple-A and moved up to MLB quickly after Betts landed on the injured list with a strained oblique, and he has proven he can last at the top level during his month-long stay. he’s batting .314 through 26 games so far, and has an .801 OPS with a homer and eight RBIs.
Additionally, he ranks in the top 20% of MLB with two outs above average and has been a real threat on the base paths with five steals in six attempts.
“He’s just been a better hitter in his opportunities,” McKain said. “Just like Justin Wrobleski has earned his spot in the rotation, I think that Hyeseong Kim has earned his spot to stay at the big league level when Mookie Betts comes back, and even when **** Hernandez comes back.”
The Dodgers are likely to move around one of their several utility infielders upon Betts’ return, but if not Kim, then who?
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Apr 15, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Hyeseong Kim celebrates after hitting a two-run home run against the New York Mets in the second inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Who Could the Dodgers Send Down When Mookie Betts is Back?
The Dodgers have a few options when Betts comes back if moving Kim isn’t on the agenda. The first of which is optioning Alex Freeland to Triple-A. Freeland still has Triple-A options left, and would not have to clear waivers to head back to the minor leagues.
Freeland has exclusively played second base this season, but hasn’t impressed despite his generous game time. Through 31 games this season, he has two homers and eight RBIs, posting a .693 OPS. He has been decent in May so far, posting an OPS over 1.000, but had a few dry spells across his two MLB seasons.
The other option for the Dodgers is designating Santiago Espinal for assignment. Espinal signed with the Dodgers on a minor league deal at the start of spring training, and broke camp after a strong spring campaign. Since then, though, he’s struggled for game time and hasn’t produced results at the plate.
He has just five hits through 27 at-bats, posting a .444 OPS through his 18 games played. McKain believes Espinal will be on the receiving end of the move once Betts returns.
“They’re going to DFA Santiago Espinal,” McKain said. “I mean, there’s just no spot on the roster for him. And he could find a spot with another team, another opportunity somewhere else. But it’s baseball. It’s a tough business, man. It really only [has] 700 of these jobs in the world, man. It’s not an easy sport to make a living at.”
What do you think the Dodgers should do when Mookie Betts comes back?
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