Dodgers face final playoff roster decisions, with one surprise name in the mix
SAN FRANCISCO –– When the Dodgers return home for their upcoming bye week to begin the playoffs, they will be joined by a couple of familiar faces.Both Josue De Paula and Hyeseong Kim will be part of the team’s pre-National League Division Series workouts in the coming days, according to manager Dave Roberts.And both will be getting serious consideration to make the team’s postseason roster, too.De Paula’s roster chances have been growing for the last several weeks.Though he was optioned back to the minors on Wednesday after an impressive 11-game debut in the majors, the 21-year-old showed enough promise in that initial stint –– even after being called up straight from double-A –– that he has seemingly leapfrogged Dalton Rushing in the battle for a left-handed bench bat role in October.Kim, on the other hand, has reemerged as a surprise roster candidate lately, despite the fact he has been in triple-A since late May.Two years on from his signing out of South Korea, the 27-year-old infielder remains a work in progress at the plate.
He hit just .259 with one home run, 11 RBIs, a .651 OPS and 31 strikeouts in 116 MLB at-bats in April and May this year.He provided equally disappointing production in the minors, as well, posting only a .262 average, three home runs, 31 RBIs and 92 strikeouts in 328 at-bats with Oklahoma City.However, Kim still possesses premium speed and infield defense (especially at second base).And just like last year, it might be enough to get him on the Dodgers’ playoff roster again.“Talking about the value of a pinch-runner in potential close games,” Roberts said, “[we would be] trusting Hyeseong, who would be the guy.”Last October, Kim served as the speed guy on the Dodgers’ playoff bench, leading to two notable postseason appearances.
In Game 4 of the NLDS, he scored the series-clinching run as a pinch-runner on Orion Kerkering’s infamous walk-off throwing error in the 11th inning.Three weeks later, Kim was an 1...