Dodgers Option Hyeseong Kim, Promote Alex Freeland to Big League

This article digs into the Dodgers’ final spring roster decision. Hyeseong Kim got optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City, while Alex Freeland landed a spot on the Opening Day roster.

It looks at Kim’s wild spring numbers and compares them to Freeland’s patient approach and on-base skills. Manager Dave Roberts and the front office ended up valuing the latter, despite Kim’s KBO history and his eye-catching camp.

Dodgers name Alex Freeland to Opening Day roster, option Hyeseong Kim to Oklahoma City

Hyeseong Kim put up a spring line that turned heads: 11 hits in 27 at-bats, a home run, and a team-best five stolen bases without being caught. That’s a .407/.448/.519 slash—pretty hard to ignore.

He also went 1-for-12 with a home run for Korea in the World Baseball Classic. The guy’s got real speed and athleticism. Meanwhile, Alex Freeland managed just five hits in 43 at-bats for a .116 average, though he did homer on Saturday.

Freeland’s on-base game stood out, though. He drew a team-high 11 walks, and his spring slash sat at .116/.286/.233.

The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya reported that Freeland was told he’d made the Opening Day roster. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts admitted the competition between Freeland and Kim was close and not simple.

Roberts pointed out that Kim hadn’t really faced much big-league velocity. So, the staff weighed more than just the numbers on paper.

Spring numbers vs. roster decisions: weighing the scales

Kim’s spring-to-big-league translation became a big topic. His early performance hinted at an impact player, especially with his speed and defensive flexibility.

Still, the Dodgers cooled off some of the hype. They wanted to see more before throwing him into the major-league fire.

Freeland’s on-base craft grabbed the organization’s attention, low average or not. Eleven walks show patience, and that’s something the Dodgers value.

They seem to like his plate discipline, especially for a guy who might come off the bench or see late-game action early in the season.

Roberts’ perspective: a decision rooted in deeper conversations

Roberts described the choice as bigger than spring stats. He said the conversations looked at more than what fans see in the box score.

The staff considered things like big-league velocity exposure and how each guy’s game would translate. Roberts painted it as a group effort, weighing scouting, development, and who’s ready to help right now.

What this means for the Dodgers moving forward

The Dodgers decided to keep Freeland on the 26-man roster and send Kim to Oklahoma City. This move shows they’re focusing on on-base potential, a solid approach, and how players handle tough at-bats against high velocity.

Freeland gives them flexibility for future moves. He can fill different roles—bench depth, pinch-running, whatever’s needed. Kim still has a lot of upside, but he’ll keep developing in the minors for now.

• Opening Day roster integrity: Freeland gets his spot based on a full evaluation, not just spring numbers.
• Kim’s development path: He stays a high-ceiling talent, working on his game in Triple-A Oklahoma City.
• Front-office philosophy: The team values approach and on-base skills more than sprint metrics if a player isn’t quite ready for the majors.
• Spring-to-season dynamics: Quick spring success needs to turn into real performance against major-league pitching.

With the regular season coming up, fans will want to see if Freeland’s plate discipline pays off. Maybe Kim’s progress in the minors speeds up his return to Dodger Stadium—could be 2026, might be sooner, who knows?

 
Here is the source article for this story: Dodgers option Hyeseong Kim, paving way for Alex Freeland