Hyeseong Kim Avoids Injury Scare, Expected to Play in WBC Quarterfinals

Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Hyeseong Kim is expected to participate in the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) after receiving a positive update on a hand injury sustained during pool play. The injury had raised concerns about his availability for Team Korea’s crucial upcoming games.

Injury Details and Initial Concerns

Kim suffered a finger injury while attempting to steal second base during Korea’s game against Chinese Taipei on March 8th. He experienced discomfort and was subsequently removed from the lineup for the following game against Australia on March 9th. Manager Ryu Ji-hyun explained that Kim hit his finger on the base during the steal attempt as reported by Adrian Medina of Yahoo Sports.

Positive Update and Quarterfinal Outlook

Initial fears surrounding the severity of the injury were alleviated following reports from Jack Harris, a Dodgers reporter for the California Post, who confirmed the injury was “not at a level of concern.” DodgersWay.com also reported the injury wasn’t a major issue.

As of March 11th, Manager Ryu Ji-hyun indicated that Kim was in solid shape to play in the game against Australia and that there were no major concerns about his future participation in the tournament according to Yahoo Sports.

Korea’s Quarterfinal Matchup

Korea advanced to the WBC quarterfinals after a 7-2 victory over Australia, securing their spot via tie-breaker rules. They are scheduled to play the winner of the Dominican Republic-Venezuela match on March 14th. Kim’s expected participation provides a significant boost to Team Korea’s chances in the quarterfinals.

Kim’s Performance and Dodgers Camp

Prior to joining Team Korea for the WBC, Kim had been performing well in Dodgers’ spring training, going 9-for-13 in Cactus League play with one home run and an OPS of 1.154 as noted by Yahoo Sports. He is competing for the starting second baseman job with the Dodgers.

Hyeseong Kim, born January 27, 1999, is a South Korean professional baseball player currently playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He previously played for the Kiwoom Heroes in the KBO League. He debuted in MLB on May 3, 2025, and was a member of the Dodgers’ 2025 World Series championship team according to Wikipedia.