Cincinnati: The Los Angeles Dodgers' South Korean rookie Kim Hye-seong has been sidelined with inflammation in his shoulder.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Dodgers placed Kim on the 10-day injured list (IL) with left shoulder bursitis prior to a game against the Cincinnati Reds. Kim, who throws right and bats left, had been dealing with a left shoulder issue for much of the past week, and it had affected his swing.
Kim's statistics indicate the impact of his shoulder problem. While he ended June with an impressive batting average of .383/.425/.543 for the season, his performance saw a decline in July, hitting only .193/.207/.211 in 21 games before being placed on the IL. Over his past five games, Kim managed only two hits in 12 at-bats, striking out nine times.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts commented on Kim's condition, stating, "He's fighting it. Will never admit it," emphasizing the visible impact on Kim's offensive performance. The rookie, who signed with the Dodgers in January after a notable eight-year career in the Korea Baseball Organization, underwent a swing change during spring training. He started the season in Triple-A before being called up to the major leagues on May 3.
In his 58 games with the Dodgers, Kim has maintained a .304/.338/.406 line, contributing two home runs, 15 RBIs, and 12 stolen bases, placing him just one steal behind Shohei Ohtani for the team lead despite playing in 47 fewer games. Defensively, Kim has been versatile, playing at second base, shortstop, and center field.
Kim's injury leaves San Francisco Giants outfielder Lee Jung-hoo as the only healthy South Korean player in the majors currently. Another South Korean player, Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Kim Ha-seong, is also on the IL with a calf injury.