Los Angeles Dodgers utility man Hyeseong Kim suffered a hand injury while playing in the WBC for Team Korea.
Kim stole a base in the bottom of the 10th inning against Chinese Taipei on Sunday, and reportedly injured his hand in doing so. Team Korea withheld Kim from their lineup against Team Australia on Monday following the injury.
The 27-year-old played in all of Korea’s first three matches at the WBC, and went 1-for-10 with two walks, three RBIs and one home run. His efforts helped propel Team Korea into the knockout stages of the WBC for the first time since the second installment of the tournament in 2009.
While Team Korea is level with Chinese Taipei and Australia on record, their run difference after a 7-2 win against Australia on Monday is the best of the three, placing them second in the group. With Czechia sitting at an 0-3 record, no team can catch them before group play ends.
They will face Pool D’s winner in the knockout rounds, with the Dominican Republic or Venezuela likely to serve as their opponent.
What Does Hyeseong Kim’s Injury Mean for the Dodgers?
Before leaving the Dodgers to go to the WBC, Kim had been making a solid case for himself to serve as the Dodgers’ Opening Day second baseman.
Tommy Edman — who filled the role for most of last season — will miss the beginning of the regular season as he recovers from offseason ankle surgery, meaning the spot is up for grabs. If Kim is to miss an extended amount of time, though, another player will have to fill in for the time being.
Santiago Espinal is the clear choice at the moment, as he’s been on a tear all spring and manager Dave Roberts said it’s “hard to imagine” him being left off the Opening Day roster. Other potential options include Alex Freeland and Ryan Fitzgerald, who both remain in big league camp after two rounds of cuts.
If the injury isn’t serious and Kim can return soon, though, he’ll look to continue to impress so he can secure the starting spot he’s been pursuing.
Who is your choice for second base if Hyeseong Kim misses time?
