Hyeseong Kim has reflected on a difficult 2026 season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, admitting that it was the most disappointing year of his baseball career after struggling to secure regular playing time in the major leagues.
The Dodgers’ postseason campaign ended on Thursday after they were swept 4-0 by the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLCS. Hoping to become the first team in decades to win three consecutive World Series titles, the Dodgers fell short as their offense struggled during the championship round.
Kim was included on the Dodgers’ NLDS roster against the Atlanta Braves, primarily to provide speed on the bases and defensive coverage late in games. However, he appeared in just one game. When the Dodgers advanced to the NLCS, they opted to carry an extra pitcher instead, leaving Kim off the roster.
Following the team’s postseason exit, Kim spoke to reporters about the disappointing result. He said that while he wanted to play, his priority was seeing the Dodgers win.
“It’s a real shame that we lost. Naturally, any player wants to be out there on the field, but more than just wanting to play myself, I really wanted the team to win. So, I cheered as hard as I could. It was a disappointing year… It was the most disappointing year of my baseball career… How should I put it? Looking back, it just didn’t feel like ‘me’ at all,” said Hyeseong Kim.
Kim appeared in 43 MLB games for the Dodgers during the 2026 regular season, spending much of the year with their Triple-A affiliate, the Oklahoma City Comets.
Hyeseong Kim opens up about limited MLB playing time
Hyeseong Kim also discussed his frustration at spending so little time in the major leagues during the 2026 season. He admitted that playing for only about a month at the highest level was particularly difficult and acknowledged that he needs to improve his hitting to establish himself as a regular starter.
“The fact that I was only in the Major Leagues for about a month—that’s what hurts the most. I want to play in the Major Leagues for a long time, but I wasn’t able to make that happen. Defense is important, but I believe hitting is the key to surviving in the big leagues. While my defense still has a long way to go, I know that to be a regular starter, I have to be able to hit… That is something I need to work on. I need to become a better hitter.”
He also discussed his efforts to return to his old leg-kick batting style. He expressed disappointment that he did not get enough opportunities to showcase the adjustment in the major leagues but said he had continued working on it during live batting practice and planned to keep refining it throughout the offseason.
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