Dodgers cut World Series champion three days before Opening Day Hyeseong Kim, the second baseman who helped the Los Angeles Dodgers win the 2025 MLB World Series, will begin the 2026 season with the team’s Triple-A affiliate after being optioned on March 22. The move opens an Opening Day roster spot for 24-year-old infielder Alex Freeland, a top prospect in the organization’s system. Kim, who celebrated the final out of the 2025 season on the infield in the 11th inning of the World Series, will now join the Dodgers’ minor league camp. The roster cuts included several notable names, with Kim’s departure being the most unexpected. Other players released from the major league roster included former first-round draft pick Nick Senzel, former Pittsburgh Pirates standout Jack Suwinski, and catcher Seby Zavala. Senzel, who had spent the entire 2025 season in the minors and Mexico, showed promise during spring training with a .270/.440/.622 batting line. However, he will still need to wait for a chance to reach the majors. Both Senzel and Suwinski were reassigned to the minor league camp after hitting three home runs in Cactus League play. Suwinski, in particular, achieved this in just three games. Zavala, who posted a .222/.333/.389 slash line in 16 spring training games, was also sent to the minors. Kim, meanwhile, had a solid rookie season in 2025, hitting .280 in 71 games while playing for the Dodgers. His spring training performance was even more impressive, with a .407 average and five stolen bases in five attempts. Despite his success, the decision to option him to Triple-A was surprising, as he had been a key contributor during the World Series. Freeland, who will start the 2026 season as the Opening Day infielder, struggled in Cactus League play with a .116 batting average.#los_angeles_dodgers #alex_freeland #hyeseong_kim #nick_senzel #jack_suwinski
Dodgers' Hyeseong Kim: Optioned to Triple-A The Los Angeles Dodgers have assigned Hyeseong Kim to Triple-A Oklahoma City, placing him on the minor-league roster for the 2026 season. Kim, a 30-year-old infielder, was optioned on Sunday after participating in nine Cactus League games, where he posted a .407 batting average with one extra-base hit and five stolen bases. Despite his strong performance in spring training, he will not be part of the major-league team's opening-day roster. Kim's absence from the active roster comes amid competition for a bench role, as he was passed over by Santiago Espinal and Alex Freeland. The Dodgers' decision was influenced by the expected status of Tommy Edman, who is anticipated to begin the season on the injured list due to a shoulder injury. Edman's potential absence created a need for depth at the infield, but Kim's inability to secure a spot on the 25-man roster highlights the challenges of making the team despite his spring success. The move to Triple-A signals a setback for Kim, who had shown promise in previous seasons. His .407 average in the Cactus League demonstrated his offensive capabilities, but the Dodgers' roster decisions suggest they prioritized other players for the 2026 campaign. Kim will now have the opportunity to continue developing in the minors, with the hope of earning a call-up later in the season.#los_angeles_dodgers #hyeseong_kim #triple_a_oklahoma_city #santiago_espinal #alex_freeland
