The Dodgers find themselves in quite the quandary regarding their second base conundrum. As the Gavin Lux trade slowly fades into history and Hyeseong Kim’s future remains uncertain, the team is navigating murky waters without a clear solution. While players like Kiké Hernández and Tommy Edman shuttle between center field—another position still undecided—and second base, the Dodgers did not envision this patchwork approach when Lux was traded for Kim.
In this shuffle, it seems inevitable that the Dodgers will need to carve out opportunities for their top prospects, especially those on the cusp of the majors in Triple-A. Among these rising stars is shortstop Alex Freeland, the organization’s fifth-ranked prospect, who made the jump to Oklahoma City in August after an earlier promotion to Double-A back in May.
While Freeland might not have the buzz surrounding him like other top prospects such as Dalton Rushing, Josue De Paula, or Jackson Ferris, he has caught the eye of ESPN’s Eric Karabell. Karabell made a bold prediction: Freeland would debut in May 2025, start 95 games at second base, and lead the team with 24 stolen bases.
Ambitious? Certainly.
But what does this mean for Kim? If ESPN’s scenario unfolds, the Dodgers will face some tough roster decisions.
It’s hard to imagine Kim remaining in the minors indefinitely, so the team would need to figure out how to balance Freeland and Kim on the same roster. This could lead to some difficult choices, potentially involving parting ways with one of Hernández, Miguel Rojas, or Chris Taylor.
While Taylor might seem like a likely candidate, his prolonged tenure with the team complicates matters.
This prospect battle between Kim and Freeland promises to be an exciting narrative leading into the season. While financial considerations often steer decisions—Kim’s salary stands at $2.83 million, significantly more than Freeland’s—the performance will ultimately play a decisive role.
The Dodgers might just witness an intriguing duel at Triple-A to determine who breaks through to make an impact on the major league stage. It’s a story worth watching for Dodgers fans and baseball aficionados alike.
