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Dodgers' Kim Hye-seong seals spring training with a homer before WBC

Published: 27 Feb. 2026, 16:04

Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Kim Hye-seong gestures during batting practice prior to Game 3 of baseball's World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays in Los Angeles on Oct. 27, 2025. [AP/YONHAP]

Los Angeles Dodgers sophomore Kim Hye-seong homered in his final spring training at-bat before joining the Korean national team for a big international tournament.

Starting at second base and batting ninth, Kim went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in the Dodgers' 7-6 victory over the Chicago White Sox at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona, on Thursday.

Kim's sixth-inning homer off Tyson Miller's 2-2 sweeper put the Dodgers up 6-5, and they hung on to win by a run. Kim was lifted for Elijah Hainline to begin the top of the seventh.

Kim will now travel to Osaka, Japan, to join Korea for a pair of tuneup games ahead of the World Baseball Classic (WBC).

Kim hit safely in all four spring training games, with six hits, five RBIs, three runs scored and two steals in 13 at-bats. The longtime infielder also logged time in center field and made a pair of running grabs on Wednesday to showcase his defensive versatility.

"I don't think there's any full satisfaction that comes from [spring results]," Kim was quoted on MLB.com. "I'm just trying to focus on the things that I'm working on. Just working on my movement quality and my swing mechanics. And, yeah, just try to play every day, and hopefully it shows during the season."

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts gushed that Kim has had "a great camp so far."

"I just love the way he plays the game. Home run was icing on the cake, exclamation mark, whatever you want to say," he said. "I wish him well, and can't wait to get him back."

Korea will begin its Pool C action at the WBC against the Czech Republic next Thursday, with games against Japan on March 7, Chinese Taipei on March 8 and Australia on March 9. The top two nations will advance to the quarterfinals.

After losing to Japan in the final of the 2009 tournament, Korea hasn't progressed beyond the opening round at each of the past three WBCs.

Yonhap