Second baseman Hyeseong Kim celebrated the final out of the 2025 MLB season on the Los Angeles Dodgers’ infield in the 11th inning of the World Series.

Kim will begin the 2026 season with the Dodgers’ Triple-A affiliate after being optioned March 22. The surprising move likely clears an Opening Day roster spot for 24-year-old infielder Alex Freeland, one of the team’s top position player prospects.

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Kim was the most surprising name in a round of roster cuts that included former first-round draft pick Nick Senzel, former Pittsburgh Pirates standout Jack Suwinski, and catcher Seby Zavala.

Senzel’s strong spring training (.270/.440/.622) might have brought him one step closer to MLB after spending all of 2025 in the minor leagues and Mexico. For now, however, the second overall pick in the 2016 MLB draft will still have to wait.

Senzel and Suwinski both re-assigned to the Dodgers’ minor league camp after hitting three home runs in Cactus League play. Suwinski needed only three Cactus League games to do so.

Back to your regularly scheduled Dodgers programming: Nick Senzel, Jack Suwinski and Seby Zavala were reassigned to MiLB camp. Dodgers should finalize their 26-man/Opening Day roster later today.

— Katie Woo (@katiejwoo) March 22, 2026

Zavala, who slashed .222/.333/.389 in 16 spring training games, was also reassigned to the minors.

The biggest surprise of the group was Kim, who hit .280 in 71 games as a rookie out of Korea in 2025, and hit .407 in spring training, with five stolen bases in five attempts.

Freeland batted only .116 in Cactus League play, but offers versatility as a switch-hitter. He walked as often as he struck out (11 in 56 plate appearances). Both Freeland and Kim can play second base and shortstop, but for now Freeland will get the Opening Day nod.

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