'Survival King' Hyeseong Kim steals Roberts' heart... A bold exclamation point on his way to the WBC

[The Financial News] It was exactly the kind of performance you would expect from a true master of survival.
In his second year in Major League Baseball, Hyeseong Kim of the Los Angeles Dodgers made a powerful statement in camp before leaving for Japan to represent Korea on the national team.
Even though Kim appeared in only four games this spring, he posted a remarkable .462 batting average with one home run, five RBIs, two stolen bases, and a 1.154 OPS. In particular, the first exhibition home run he hit on the 26th against the Chicago White Sox was a decisive moment that showed why he is considered a key piece on the Dodgers' roster.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expressed great satisfaction with Kim's performance. Roberts said Kim has shown "really good" form so far and that he loves the way Kim plays the game. Speaking about the home run Kim hit before his departure, Roberts praised it as "the icing on the cake" and "like an exclamation point at the end of a sentence," adding that he simply hopes Kim returns safely.

Roberts also highlighted Kim's technical evolution. He noted that Kim has improved his ability to handle breaking balls and praised him for not chasing pitches that drop low out of the strike zone. Roberts added that Kim continues to hit fastballs well, which was already a strength, and appears to have covered some of the holes in his swing, concluding that Kim has looked "really good" so far.
Kim himself, however, remained composed. He began by saying he could not be "100% satisfied" with his spring training numbers. He went on to explain that right now he is focused on the quality of his movements and his swing mechanics, and emphasized that he hopes those efforts will translate into results once the regular season begins.

After launching a home run in his final game before departure, Kim was asked by reporters whether he felt he had finished camp on a high note. He responded with his trademark wit and confidence, saying they should pose that question to his manager instead.
Kim now heads to Tokyo for the first round of the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC). With Dodgers utility player Tommy Edman set to begin the season on the Injured List (IL), Kim's ability to handle multiple positions and his more refined hitting approach have given him a step up in the competition for a spot on the Opening Day roster.
The stolen base he took with his quick feet was impressive, but the heart he stole from Roberts with his smart swing may have been even bigger. For Hyeseong Kim, the 2026 season is only just beginning.
jsi@fnnews.com Jeon Sang-il Reporter