Alex Freeland Earns More Runway Over Hyeseong Kim

alex freeland is back with the Dodgers, and Dave Roberts said he will likely get more playing time than Hyeseong Kim. Freeland was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City after earlier being sent down this month when Mookie Betts returned from injury. Roberts said he has earned more runway.

Roberts Shifts the Infield

That decision puts Freeland in line for a larger role while both infielder are on the roster. Roberts said, “Alex Freeland will likely get more of the playing time over Hyeseong Kim while both are on the roster.”

Kim had kept his MLB spot when Freeland was optioned earlier this month, but his place had already looked shaky. Roberts’ comment made the next step explicit: the rookie’s return is not just a depth move, it is a playing-time change.

Hernández Leaves Another Opening

The opening widened after Kiké Hernández exited on Tuesday night with an injury after recently returning from offseason elbow surgery. He had missed more than 50 games before coming back, then hit 4-for-4 with two doubles and one home run in limited action before leaving his second game.

Hernández said after the game Tuesday that he had experienced the strain during batting practice on Monday and initially hoped it was a “low-grade strain.” By Wednesday afternoon, the injury had been described as a more serious tear, which left the Dodgers with another infield gap to cover.

Freeland had been excelling for Triple-A Oklahoma City before the recall, and Roberts said he had earned “more runway.” For Dodgers fans tracking the infield picture, the immediate read is straightforward: Freeland is getting the larger share of the work, and Kim is the player most likely to lose it.