Hyeseong Kim Bio
Hyeseong Kim (Korean: 김혜성; born January 27, 1999) is a South Korean professional baseball player who serves as a second baseman, shortstop, and center fielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). Nicknamed “The Comet” for his exceptional speed, Kim is widely recognized as one of the top position players to transition from the KBO League to MLB. He made his MLB debut on May 3, 2025, and quickly established himself as a valuable utility defender and base-running threat for the Dodgers.
Kim is the only KBO player to receive the Golden Glove Award at both shortstop and second base, a record that highlights his defensive versatility. In 2025, Kim joined Byung-hyun Kim as the second Korean-born player to win a World Series, and he became the first Korean-born position player to do so.
Early Life and Background
Hyeseong Kim was born on January 27, 1999, in Incheon, South Korea. He grew up in the same city that would later shape much of his early baseball identity, attending Dongsan High School in Incheon, a program known for producing competitive talent. From a young age, Kim gravitated toward baseball, and his high school years gave him the platform to develop the contact skills and base-running instincts that would later define his professional career.
In 2016, Kim received the Lee Young-min Batting Award, given to the top-hitting high school player in South Korea. That recognition marked him as one of the most polished young hitters in the country and helped set the stage for his entry into professional baseball. His strong high school résumé, combined with his speed and defensive instincts, made him a highly regarded prospect heading into the 2017 KBO draft.
Path to Professional Baseball
Kim was drafted by the Nexen Heroes of the KBO League in the second round of the 2017 draft, selected out of Dongsan High School. He was part of the same draft class as Lee Jung-hoo, a fellow Korean star who would later become his teammate, friend, and a fellow MLB export. That draft class is regarded as one of the more talented in recent KBO history.
Kim made his professional debut on June 28, 2017, against the NC Dinos. He appeared in six games with three at-bats before being sent down to the KBO Futures League, the KBO’s minor league system. He was recalled on September 1 and finished his rookie season playing 16 games with a .188 batting average and a .548 OPS, modest numbers that masked his long-term potential.
By the 2018 season, Kim had earned a full-time role as a starter for the Heroes. He responded with a .270 batting average and a .695 OPS across 138 games, signaling that his development was on an upward trajectory. That second season laid the foundation for what would become one of the most productive careers in the Heroes’ recent history.
Hyeseong Kim Career
Early Career with the Heroes (2017-2018)
Hyeseong Kim’s first two seasons with the Nexen Heroes served as a development period. In 2017, his limited at-bats offered a glimpse of his speed and defensive promise, though his offensive numbers were still raw. The Heroes, who rebranded as the Kiwoom Heroes beginning in 2019, invested in his growth and gave him regular playing time once his tools began to translate to the KBO level.
The 2018 season represented a clear step forward. Playing 138 games as a starter, Kim hit .270 with a .695 OPS while continuing to develop his plate discipline and base-running approach. Those improvements helped him cement his place in the Heroes’ everyday lineup and positioned him for the breakthrough years that would follow.
Kiwoom Heroes Breakthrough (2019-2024)
From 2019 onward, Kim blossomed into one of the premier players in the KBO League. He won four consecutive KBO Golden Glove Awards, taking home the honor in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024, a stretch that underscored both his offensive consistency and his elite defensive play at multiple positions. In 2021, he also led the league in stolen bases, further cementing his reputation as one of the fastest players in Korean baseball.
Across his KBO career with the Heroes organization, Kim batted .304 with 37 home runs, 386 RBI, and 211 stolen bases in 953 games. His combination of contact hitting, on-base ability, and speed made him one of the most complete position players in the league. He is also the only KBO player ever to receive the Golden Glove Award at both shortstop and second base, a testament to his defensive range and baseball IQ.
In his final KBO season of 2024, Kim played 127 games for Kiwoom and slashed .326/.383/.458 with 30 stolen bases, while setting career highs in home runs (11) and RBI (75). On December 4, 2024, the Heroes posted Kim to Major League Baseball as a free agent, opening the door for his move to the United States.
Los Angeles Dodgers Era (2025-Present)
On January 3, 2025, Kim signed a three-year, $12.5 million guaranteed contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The deal also included two additional option years that could increase its total value to $22 million, and the Dodgers paid a $2.5 million posting fee to the Heroes. The agreement represented a significant commitment by the Dodgers and signaled their belief in Kim’s long-term upside.
After struggling at the plate during spring training, the Dodgers announced on March 11 that Kim would begin the 2025 season in Triple-A with the Oklahoma City Comets. He was called up to the major leagues on May 3 and made his MLB debut that night as a defensive replacement against the Atlanta Braves. Two days later, on May 5, he recorded his first MLB hit against Sandy Alcántara of the Miami Marlins, finishing his first start with two hits, an RBI, a stolen base, and a run scored. His first MLB home run came on May 14, off Gunnar Hoglund of the Athletics.
Kim spent all of August on the injured list due to left shoulder bursitis and did not return to the Dodgers until September 2. Although he had been the team’s primary second baseman before the injury, his playing time was reduced upon his return. He finished the regular season batting .280 with three home runs, 17 RBI, and 13 stolen bases in 71 games. Kim appeared on the Dodgers’ postseason roster and played a memorable role in October, replacing Tommy Edman as a pinch runner in the 11th inning of Game 4 of the National League Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies and scoring the series-winning run on a throwing error by relief pitcher Orion Kerkering. He also appeared in Game 7 of the World Series as a defensive replacement at second base, recording the first putout of the 11th inning before the Dodgers completed their championship victory.
Driving Style and Strengths
Hyeseong Kim is widely regarded as a high-contact, high-speed player whose game is built on putting the ball in play, getting on base, and creating chaos on the base paths. His ability to play second base, shortstop, and center fielder gives him tremendous defensive flexibility, and his speed translates into range in the field and stolen-base threat on the bases. At the plate, Kim’s approach emphasizes line-drive contact and on-base consistency rather than raw power, which fits cleanly into a Dodgers lineup built on depth and versatility.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the defining moments of Kim’s career are his MLB debut on May 3, 2025, his first MLB hit against Sandy Alcántara on May 5, his first MLB home run off Gunnar Hoglund on May 14, and his series-winning run scored in Game 4 of the National League Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies. He also became the first Korean-born position player to win a World Series, joining pitcher Byung-hyun Kim in that historic distinction.
Hyeseong Kim Career Wins and Honors
Hyeseong Kim has compiled a decorated résumé across both the KBO League and Major League Baseball. He is a four-time KBO Golden Glove Award winner, having earned the honor in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024, and he led the KBO in stolen bases in 2021. In 2025, he added a World Series championship to his list of accomplishments as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
KBO Highlights
Across his KBO career with the Nexen and Kiwoom Heroes from 2017 through 2024, Kim batted .304 with 37 home runs, 386 RBI, and 211 stolen bases in 953 games. His four consecutive Golden Glove Awards, beginning in 2021, are a hallmark of his tenure, and his 2024 season featured a .326/.383/.458 slash line with 30 stolen bases and career highs in home runs (11) and RBI (75).
Other Honors and Performances
Before turning professional, Kim won the Lee Young-min Batting Award in 2016 as the top-hitting high school player in South Korea, a precursor to the success that followed at the KBO and MLB levels.
Hyeseong Kim Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Hyeseong Kim is a South Korean native who was born and raised in Incheon, the city where he attended Dongsan High School and began his journey toward professional baseball. Details about his parents and extended family have not been publicly confirmed.
Kim is also well known for his close friendship and shared professional path with fellow Korean star Lee Jung-hoo, a relationship that dates back to their days as members of the same 2017 KBO draft class. The two players later became teammates with the Kiwoom Heroes and remain connected through their transitions to Major League Baseball.
2025 Season Performance
Hyeseong Kim’s 2025 season was a year of transition, perseverance, and a championship finish. After beginning the year in Triple-A with the Oklahoma City Comets, he was promoted to the Dodgers on May 3 and quickly made an impact with his first MLB hit on May 5 and his first home run on May 14. A left shoulder bursitis injury kept him sidelined for the entire month of August, and his playing time was reduced after his September 2 return, yet he still finished the regular season batting .280 with three home runs, 17 RBI, and 13 stolen bases across 71 games.
Kim’s postseason role, while limited in at-bats, became historically significant. In Game 4 of the National League Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies, he scored the series-winning run in the 11th inning on a throwing error, and he appeared in Game 7 of the World Series as a late defensive replacement at second base. The Dodgers’ victory gave Kim his first MLB championship and made him the first Korean-born position player to win a World Series.
Looking ahead, Kim’s contract with the Dodgers runs through 2027 with two additional option years that could extend the agreement to 2029, giving the organization long-term control over a versatile, high-speed defender. His blend of contact hitting, stolen-base ability, and multi-position flexibility positions him as a long-term piece of the Dodgers’ roster and a bridge between Korean baseball and the major leagues.