Dodger's attention shifts to Hyeseong Kim, ensuring his long-term presence.

Hyeseong Kim has lit up the Los Angeles Dodgers' locker room with his infectious smile, energized a previously sluggish segment, and transformed their offense with his speed. There's no doubt about it - Kim belongs in the Major Leagues.

Manager Dave Roberts was questioned about the "arduous choice" the Dodgers will have to make when utilityman Tommy Edman and outfielder Teoscar Hernández return from injury in the coming weeks. But this decision isn't hard. Kim will still be a valuable asset in the Major Leagues.

Will there not be enough at-bats for him? Not an issue for Kim, who has already played seven-plus seasons in the Korean Baseball Organization before joining the Dodgers. He isn’t your typical rookie.

Andrew Friedman, the President of Baseball Operations, stated that part of the reason catcher Dalton Rushing was called up this week was due to the fierce competition in the National League West. That same logic should apply to Kim's situation. Make use of the injured list, release Chris Taylor - do whatever it takes to keep Kim in Los Angeles.

"How he's playing certainly helps his case," acknowledged Roberts.

Shohei Ohtani, one of the Dodgers' stars, homered twice on his bobblehead night, and Dalton Rushing had a strong debut, leading the Dodgers to a dominating victory. Ohtani, who usually struggles to drive in runs, has significantly improved with Kim on the team.

In the past 12 games Ohtani played since Kim was called up from triple-A Oklahoma City, Ohtani collected 18 runs batted in. Kim batted eighth or ninth in each of the eight games he started through Thursday, and Ohtani had already driven him home five times. This dependency also applies to Ohtani, as he's driven in the most runs among all the current players.

"It's much easier to pitch to Shohei when nobody's on base," Roberts said. "Recently, with Kim's ability to get on base, there's always traffic."

Kim entered the Freeway Series opener on Friday batting .429, which is a surprising stat given his apparent struggles at the plate during spring training. His exceptional contact ability has only served to highlight his greatest asset, his blazing speed.

"He's really talented. He can do a lot of really special things that you can't see from a lot of players," said Max Muncy, third baseman for the Dodgers.

Kim's game-changing速度 was on display in just his second major league game when he was deployed as a ninth-inning pinch runner with a one-run deficit against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park. Kim stole second base, reached third on a dropped third strike, and set himself within 90 feet of the tying run. Sadly, the next two batters struck out, and the Dodgers lost the game, but Kim's cameo was a taste of what was to come.

In his first 12 major league games, Kim stole three bases and plated nine runs. Three of his first 12 hits were infield hits.

"I've been trying to figure out what my role is in this organization," Kim said through an interpreter, "and I'm just trying to control what I can control."

Kim's speed has also influenced how opponents approach Ohtani. One particular example that was cited was Ohtani's three-run, ninth-inning home run in a 14-11 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on May 9. Kim was on second base, and Michael Conforto was on first when Ohtani came to bat with one out and the score level. Walking Ohtani would have moved the go-ahead run to third base, and with Kim's speed, any ball put in play by the next batter would have likely resulted in a run. However, the Diamondbacks' reliever Ryan Thompson pitched to Ohtani, who launched a 1-2 pitch into the stands in right-center.

Kim has become a beloved figure in the clubhouse, overcoming a language barrier to form bonds with players such as Ohtani and Mookie Betts.

"That started in spring training," Muncy said. "He was there with a couple of us and just immediately fit right in. He likes to have fun. He's always smiling, he's always laughing. He's really fun to have out there."

With a three-year deal that could be extended by the Dodgers for an additional two seasons, Kim seems poised to be a part of the Dodgers' future. But even with Edman and Hernández back from injury, Kim's contributions to the team's recent success cannot be overlooked.