For Hyeseong Kim, it was a dream come true—playing in Major League Baseball. As he entered the league, he wasn’t chasing a multi-million-dollar deal. His priorities were different. When it came down to choosing between two iconic California rivals, he tilted toward legacy. Despite being offered a 5-year, $28 million contract by the Los Angeles Angels reportedly, Kim’s choice was clear—Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Dodgers made an offer of 5 years and $22 million. However, only 3 years and $12.5 million were guaranteed. Clearly, the Angels offered him more. But for Kim, the ultimatum was joining the reigning World Series champion for his rookie MLB season.
For the record, the Orange County Register’s Jeff Fletcher refuted in January that the Angels offered him more. However, Kim’s reasons for not choosing the Angels were completely different.
In an interview with SBS Sports, he laid out the reasons for choosing the Dodgers. The South Korean said, “When I compared the Angels and the Dodgers, I wanted to be part of the Dodgers, considered the best team in the world. I didn’t worry about depth or any of that. I just thought I’d go there, face the challenge, and give it my all.” His driving force in the major league wasn’t convenience. Instead, it was grounded in ambition. He was not bothered about being sent to the minors.
And that was why it didn’t take him long to rule out the Angels. “If I had signed with the Angels, I wouldn’t have been sent down to the minors because my contract included a no minor league clause,” Kim added. “But had I joined the Angels and underperformed, I think being sent to the minors would’ve been fair. But had I joined the Angels and underperformed, I think being sent to the minors would’ve been fair.” To Kim’s perspective, roster spots should be earned, not protected by contract clauses.
Hyeseong Kim explains why he joined the Dodgers instead of the Angels:
“It didn’t matter whether the contract included a minor league opt-out clause or not… I wanted to be a part of the Dodgers, considered the best team in the world.”
: SBS pic.twitter.com/fxIWfEjNvt
— Hyeseong Kim Muse 김혜성 (@HyeseongKimMuse) May 29, 2025
Yes, he might have been tempted to use that clause in order to avoid a demotion. However, doing so if he hadn’t lived up to the expectations wouldn’t have felt right. For Kim, it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join the Dodgers. Naturally, he had to make a bold choice.
Hyeseong Kim isn’t a typical Dodgers’ rookie
Hyeseong Kim is proving time and again that he is built for the big leagues. From South Korea to Major League Baseball, his transition has been smooth. Not quite easy, though.
First, he was sent down to triple-A following a rough spring training. But as he made his way back, he’s now hitting a .366 with a strong .859 OPS. However, his one home run and 5 RBIs so far reflect his consistency at the plate and getting on base.
Dodgers’ skipper Dave Roberts opened up about Kim’s impact on the rest of the lineup. In a recent blowout victory over the Oakland Athletics, when Shohei Ohtani hit two soaring home runs, both times, it was Kim on base ahead of him.
“It’s a lot easier to pitch to Shohei when nobody’s on base.” Roberts admitted. “With Kim and his ability to get on base, there’s always traffic.”
The Dodgers’ president of Baseball Operations, Andrew Friedman, recently noted that competitiveness in the National League West has a major role in roster decisions. That also includes the recent call-up of Dalton Rushing, the catcher. And perhaps that’s the reason why a fair bit of urgency was applied to Kim’s case as well. Now, the Dodgers need reliability, and Kim is doing well so far.
The post MLB News: Korean Sensation Hyeseong Kim Reveals Why He Chose Dodgers Over Angels appeared first on EssentiallySports.
