The Angels fail to make it big again! The Los Angeles Angels lost one of the most coveted international stars to the Dodgers. So what does the Korean star, Hyeseong Kim, have to say? Well, Kim said that he received offers from the Mariners, Angels, Dodgers, and Cubs, and while his agent advised him to move to the Angels, he chose the other path.

Before we move on to why the international star rejected the Angels’ deal, let’s have a look at his performance. Hyeseong Kim, while playing for the Kiwoom Heroes, had a .326 batting average, with .383 OBP and .41 OPS, and he even hit 11 home runs with 75 RBIs. Given his performance stats, wanting to play in the postseason is natural, and that’s another reason for not choosing the Angels, who failed massively. Sounds true?

Well, first things first—the deal offered by the Los Angeles Angels included non-guaranteed money, which wasn’t suitable for Hyeseong Kim, while the Dodgers’ offered a smaller contract that turned out to be more financially secure. While many might disagree, Kim’s decision indicates how guaranteed money tends to be more favourable than long-term promises, especially for international players like him. But that’s not all!

The Los Angeles Angels had a poor run in 2024, as they started with losing games from the start of the season, while the early exit of Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon due to injuries made things much worse. Not only were the Angels eliminated from the postseason, but they also lost 10-5 against the Minnesota Twins. With the club at a 60-85 record, they are three games behind the Oakland Athletics and 17.5 games behind the Houston Astros, who are at the top. Therefore, all these problems with the Angels led to Kim rejecting the offer and signing with the Dodgers for a three-year, $12.5 million contract.

So, will the Dodgers be benefitted with the addition of the international star?

Kim Hye-Seong shows good signs with spring training debut

Ever since Hyeseong Kim made his debut spring training with the Los Angeles Dodgers, he has been gaining the attention of many. The 26-year-old Korean star managed to play as the number 8 hitter and played at second base when the Dodgers faced the Cubs in Phoenix, Arizona. But that doesn’t end here!

In the bottom of the second inning, Kim managed to ground to the third base position while walking in the fourth’s bottom. Despite the Los Angeles Dodgers losing to the Cubs, he managed two putouts and full counts during both at-bats, which signifies a smooth debut during his first game. While he mentioned the fastballs and defensive positions that seem to be a bit confusing for Kim, he is keen to prove himself at Dodger Stadium, and hopefully, the Dodgers turn back to winning ways as well.

So, do you think Kim made the right decision going to the Dodgers rather than the Angels? Please share your responses in the comment section below.