Into the stratosphere: 'The Comet' launches first MLB homer

LOS ANGELES -- When Hyeseong Kim walks up to the plate at Dodger Stadium, "Welcome to the Show" by Day6 is his accompanying song of choice. It's a fitting track for the former KBO star, who is seeing his first Major League action after eight seasons in South Korea.

Kim went 2-for-2 and hit his first big league homer, a game-tying solo shot, in the fifth inning of Wednesday night's 9-3 win over the A's. For Kim, who grew up admiring the Dodgers, it was a moment he had been waiting for.

“I always dreamed to play in this stadium," Kim said through interpreter Joe Lee. "I’m really happy. I’m really thrilled right now.”

Dating back to Spring Training, those around Kim seem to gravitate toward him. Even his opponents seem to like him. There's a language barrier, but Kim speaks freely with his teammates and loops in Lee as needed.

"We're trying to squeeze all the English we got," said Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who had a quality start on Wednesday, through interpreter Yoshihiro Sonoda.

Not only has Kim made himself someone his teammates pull for through his everyday interactions, but he's backed it up with his play on the field.

In 11 games with the Dodgers, Kim is hitting .360 (9-for-25) with an .840 OPS. He's fielded second base well, showing why he's won three KBO Golden Glove Awards at the position. And he's proven to be a threat on the basepaths, capable of getting into opposing pitchers' heads.

One inning after Kim's game-tying blast, manager Dave Roberts pinch-hit Miguel Rojas against a left-hander in Kim's spot in the order, and Rojas came through with a go-ahead RBI double. It wasn't an entirely surprising move since Kim has only had one plate appearance against a lefty in his short time with the Dodgers, but it signaled that his opportunities are still somewhat limited in his first stint in the big leagues.

Kim was called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City when Tommy Edman went on the 10-day injured list with right ankle inflammation. It was indicated at the time that it would be a temporary stint in the big leagues, but the 26-year-old has gotten a fair amount of runway in his time with the Dodgers, especially after Teoscar Hernández also went on the IL with a left groin strain.

But both Edman and Hernández could be back next week, leaving Kim and James Outman as the most likely to be optioned once they are both activated.

"I think that we wanted to get him here to cut his teeth, get his feet wet and see what the big leagues are about, get familiar," Roberts said of Kim. "Once Tommy and Teo come back, there's some decisions to be made. But performance, and how he's playing, certainly helps his case."

On the other hand, the Dodgers made a move on Wednesday that showed they are willing to shake things up. The team called up top prospect Dalton Rushing before the game, designating longtime backup catcher Austin Barnes for assignment in order to open a spot on the roster.

As a left-handed bat capable of playing the infield and outfield -- and with plenty of speed -- Kim brings a different dimension to the Dodgers. In an ideal world, the team wouldn't want him to be a bench bat. Given that he is continuing to adjust his swing and acclimate to Major League pitching, he would benefit greatly from getting everyday reps.

But the same is true for Rushing, and the Dodgers are set on continuing his development at the big league level, even if he's not playing every day. If Kim continues to be an impact player for Los Angeles, perhaps the club could figure out a similar plan for him.

"I think with [Kim]," Roberts said, "it's just such a dynamic player that just putting the ball in play, moving it forward, something good potentially can happen, and that's what he's doing for us."

Kim is trying to control what he can control, rather than thinking about how the team views his role. And he can control the process that leads to more results like he got on Wednesday.

“I don’t really try to think about hitting with power," Kim said. "I think the only thing that I really care about is to hit [the ball hard]. And if a hit comes out, I’m happy. And if not, I’ve got to try to work hard on it.”