The Dodgers optioned infielder Hyeseong Kim and right-hander Bobby Miller this night. In addition they reassigned non-roster invitees Giovanny Gallegos, Eddie Rosario, David Bote, Michael Chavis and high prospect Dalton Dashing to minor league camp.
Moreover, Bob Nightengale of USA At this time studies that Dustin Might will open the season because the fifth starter as Tony Gonsolin is ticketed for an injured checklist stint. Supervisor Dave Roberts instructed Dodgers Territory yesterday that was prone to be the case, as Gonsolin just lately tweaked his again whereas lifting weights.
Kim entered camp as the favourite for the second base job. The Dodgers signed the lefty-hitting infielder to a three-year deal that assured $12.5MM. Whereas that’s a comparatively modest funding, L.A. traded Gavin Lux to Cincinnati a number of days later. That seemingly opened the trail for Kim to step in on the keystone, however the Dodgers evidently have some considerations about how his bat will translate to open the season.
Offensive affect has been the query courting again to Kim’s time in Korea. Evaluators credit score him as a very good baserunner and plus defender. He hit .304 over eight KBO seasons however was by no means a lot of an influence menace. Final season’s 11 residence runs represented a profession excessive. The 26-year-old infielder struck out 10 instances in 31 plate appearances throughout his first MLB camp. He hit .222 with one homer in 14 spring video games.
Beginning Kim within the minors supplies Roberts some flexibility at second base. The Dodgers might flip to any of Miguel Rojas, Enrique Hernández or Chris Taylor — all of whom would in any other case play utility roles. Alternatively, they may carry Tommy Edman again in from middle area to play second. That’d open middle area for Andy Pages or James Outman, however neither of them have had particularly spectacular Spring Trainings.
The Gonsolin damage resolves L.A.’s largest camp battle: the fifth starter competitors between him and Might. Each pitchers missed all of final season rehabbing surgical procedures. Gonsolin underwent a 2023 Tommy John process. Might required a flexor restore in ’23 and wanted to bear emergency esophageal surgical procedure final summer season after struggling a life-threatening throat tear whereas consuming. His season debut can be his first main league look in almost two years.
Might rounds out what can be a five-man rotation in the meanwhile. Tyler Glasnow, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Roki Sasaki and Blake Snell will maintain the highest 4 rotation spots. Yamamoto and Sasaki are respectively tabbed for Video games 1 and a pair of throughout subsequent week’s Tokyo Collection matchup in opposition to the Cubs.
