Hyeseong Kim didn’t enter the 2025 season with nearly as much fanfare as fellow Los Angeles Dodgers rookie Roki Sasaki, but his talent was clear. Some even believed in his talent enough to pick him over Sasaki — at the time a resounding favorite — for the Rookie of the Year award.

Of course, neither player emerged victorious, but the Dodgers won the World Series anyway, so no harm done. However, Kim’s play on the field did leave something to be desired. In 180 plate appearances, he hit .280/.314/.385, good for a 95 wRC+. Most troublingly, his lack of power (three home runs) and strikeout troubles (30.6% strikeout rate) pose serious concerns for his MLB future.

As such, when asked about how he’d grade himself for his debut stateside season, Kim didn’t hold back.

Hyeseong Kim’s rookie performance was rough at times, but his future with Dodgers is bright

“Thirty out of 100,” Kim said, per Dodgers Nation. “I’m not sure why, but I wasn’t satisfied. I think I have a long way to go. To fill the remaining 70 points, I need to improve in all areas. As a baseball player, I will strive to reach 100.”

It’s true that Kim doesn’t deserve an “A” grade for his efforts in 2025, but a 30? That’s below “F-” territory, and an unfair criticism of what the Korean star brings to the table.

Remember, he played passable defense at both shortstop and center field when called upon, and he was downright elite at second base (four Outs Above Average, nine Defensive Runs Saved). He’s capable of playing all over the diamond, and with his 85th-percentile sprint speed, he can play both the infield and outfield with aplomb.

Let’s also not forget that this is a guy whose on-base percentage exceeded .370 in each of his last four seasons in the KBO. With just two years and $8 million remaining on his deal (plus $5 million club options in each of the following two years), he’s as attractive as any second base or utility trade candidate on the market.

With both of the Dodgers’ primary utility players, Miguel Rojas and Kiké Hernandez, hitting free agency this offseason, there will be an appetite for Kim to step in an take over in a Ben Zobrist-esque role. If the team is willing to commit to him after abandoning him in the second half of 2025 — he drew zero plate appearances in the postseason and played in just 22 games at the All-Star Break — there’s a good chance Kim can escape his own failing grade next season.