Dodgers Consider Roster Decisions Ahead of Playoffs

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. Both players will be considered for the team’s postseason roster. De Paula’s chances have been increasing over the last several weeks. Although 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 that he has seemingly surpassed Dalton Rushing in the competition for a left-handed bench bat role in October. Kim has reemerged as a surprise roster candidate lately, despite being in triple-A since late May. Two years after signing out of South Korea, the 27-year-old infielder remains a work in progress at the plate. He hit .259 with one home run, 11 RBIs, a .651 OPS, and 31 strikeouts in 116 MLB at-bats in April and May this year. His production in the minors was similarly disappointing, with a .262 average, three home runs, 31 RBIs, and 92 strikeouts in 328 at-bats with Oklahoma City. However, Kim possesses premium speed and infield defense, particularly at second base. Roberts mentioned the potential value of having a pinch-runner in close games, indicating trust in Kim for that role. Last October, Kim served as a pinch-runner 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 a throwing error in the 11th inning. Three weeks later, he was an 11th-inning substitute in Game 7 of the World Series, taking over for an injured player while the Dodgers secured the final three outs. If Kim makes the playoff roster again this year, he would likely serve in a similar role. The main question is whether the Dodgers can afford to carry an extra position player who may not be trusted to bat. They managed this last year with Kim and another outfielder serving in niche capacities throughout October. However, this year, they will not have the luxury of a two-way player like Shohei Ohtani, who is limited to hitting. For the upcoming best-of-five NLDS, it appears there could be a spot for Kim, as Roberts noted that the number of pitchers is less critical in a short series. Leading up to Game 1 of the NLDS next Saturday, the Dodgers will also need to consider Shohei Ohtani’s health, set the starting rotation order, and establish a more settled bullpen hierarchy, especially with Edgardo Henriquez expected to be available for the series despite missing recent weeks due to a back injury. After Sunday’s regular-season finale, the Dodgers will have time to finalize their roster decisions, with De Paula and Kim still in contention.