"Freeland hit .116 in 43 Spring Training at-bats, but the Dodgers have been impressed by his underlying metrics and believe he is due for improved results, while also projecting regression for Kim."
"Kim was hitting .407 with a .967 on-base plus slugging this spring, while adding one home run, six RBI, eight runs scored and five stolen bases."
"The Dodgers likely want to have him continue working on that in a low-stress environment, as Kim's swing mechanics were 'out of sync' after returning from the WBC."
"With their decision, the Dodgers are following their projections for Freeland to be better than Kim, rather than following the Spring Training results."
The Dodgers entered Spring Training with a mostly set roster, but a competition for second base emerged between Alex Freeland and Hyeseong Kim. Despite Kim's strong performance, hitting .407 with a .967 OPS, the Dodgers optioned him to Triple-A. Freeland, who struggled with a .116 average, was chosen due to better underlying metrics and projected improvement. The decision reflects the Dodgers' focus on long-term potential over immediate results, which may upset some fans.
Read at Dodger Blue
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