Hyeseong Kim makes his feelings known about joining Dodgers

Hyeseong Kim is the latest international star who has made the jump to MLB, joining the LA Dodgers on a three-year deal. The versatile infielder has made a name for himself with the Kiwoom Heroes and the Nexen Heroes in South Korea and will soon play for the reigning World Series champions.

An elite batter with the ability to rack up hits and stolen bases, Kim was one of the most intriguing names on the open market this offseason. If he won't blossom into an All-Star at the MLB level, Kim will still be a useful weapon for his new club, especially in the wake of the departure of Gavin Lux to the Cincinnati Reds.

According to MLB insider Jeeho Yoo on Tuesday, Kim spoke about the decision to join the LA Dodgers during a media session. The infielder explained how the World Series champs were the first MLB club to reach out to him about a potential deal, which helped him make his decision and left him feeling "grateful" for their early interest.

For Kim, who grew up in Goyang-si, South Korea, the Dodgers were the club that he watched as a young baseball player. His fascination with the franchise most likely had something to do with his decision and he said that he will be "honored" to don the Dodgers uniform when he makes his long-awaited MLB debut next season.

He is the type of player who can make an already strong LA Dodgers squad even more unstoppable. Last season, the bottom of the team's lineup was inconsistent and struggled to rack up hits. However, one of Hyeseong Kim's biggest strengths is his ability to put the ball in play, posting a .326 batting average with 11 home runs, 75 RBIs and 30 stolen bases last year.

Hyeseong Kim's defense will also play a key role in his potential success with the LA Dodgers

While his batting ability is something that is often mentioned when talked about in MLB circles, Hyeseong Kim's defensive skills should help him cement himself as a key figure for the club in 2025. The former Kiwoom Heroes infielder won the KBO League Golden Glove Award four times in his career, becoming the only player to win it at both second base and shortstop.

It will be interesting to see where Kim lines up for the Dodgers next season, especially considering that the team announced that Mookie Betts will be returning to the infield. The good news for Kim and the Dodgers is he can play all over the field, which could help get him into the lineup regularly.