Dodgers announce 26-man roster for National League Division Series, Kim Hye-sung, DePaola selected
Quick Look
- The Los Angeles Dodgers announced their 26-man roster for the National League Division Series today.
- Infielder Kim Hye-sung returned to the major league roster after five months, and outfield rookie DePaola was also selected.
- Dodgers head coach Robles and president of operations Friedman respectively pointed out that Kim Hye-sung's defensive versatility and footwork were the keys to the selection, while DePaola was valued for his composure in the strike zone and ability to substitute.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Kim Hye-sung joined the Dodgers in January 2025 for four years and $12.5 million. He won the championship with the team last year, but he started from 3A due to losing the competition for the fielding position at the beginning of this year. He was demoted again at the end of May and did not return to the major leagues until today when he returned to the playoff roster. DePaola skipped Triple-A and was promoted to the major leagues in September, appearing in only 11 games.
Jin Huicheng. (File photo)
[Sports Center/Comprehensive Report] The Dodgers announced the 26-man roster for the National League Division Series before the game today. In addition to top player Josue De Paula, South Korean player Kim Hye-sung, who has "disappeared" since being delegated in May, was also included on the list.
The 27-year-old Kim Hye-sung joined the Dodgers in January 2025 for a four-year, $12.5 million deal. He won the championship with the team last year, but lost the competition for the fielding position at the beginning of this year and started from Triple-A. However, he got another chance to play in the major leagues when Mookie Betts was injured. He played 43 games and posted an offensive index of 0.651, 1 home run, and 11 RBIs. He was demoted again at the end of May and never returned to the major leagues.
Please read on...
Dodgers head coach Dave Roberts revealed in a previous interview that Kim Hye Sung has a chance to squeeze into the playoff roster, but the biggest problem is the stability of the hit. Now that the Dodgers have officially brought Kim Hye-sung into the playoffs, Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman said: "His fielding versatility and footwork are what we value. I think our team has many advantages, but footwork is not one of them, so there may be some opportunities after the game to use his speed to help us score."
DePaola, who skipped Triple-A and was promoted to the major leagues in September and played only 11 games, is also on the Dodgers Division Series roster. Friedman revealed: "We obviously have a very high opinion of him, and seeing his composure in the strike zone, ball selection and batting destructive power, we believe that when he needs to step in at critical moments, he can become a trustworthy bench player. We can trust his on-the-spot reactions and abilities."
In order to make room for Kim Hye-sung on the roster, the Dodgers did not bring backup outfielder Alex Call to the roster. Among the pitchers, relief left-hander Jack Dreyer and star left-hander Justin Wrobleski did not appear on the roster. Instead, star left-hander Kris Bubidge, who was traded in mid-season but did not appear in the regular season due to injury, was on the roster. Bubic is on the roster. Head coach Robles said bluntly that these are very difficult decisions, but considering the outfield lineup the Warriors will put out, the team believes this is the best arrangement.
Dodgers divisional round roster. (Taken from Dodge Official X)
Open Questions
- What role will Kim Hye-sung play in the divisional round?
- Will DePaola be used as a backup at critical moments?
- Bubic did not take the board due to injury. Has his condition recovered?
