There was a time when the Los Angeles Dodgers were envied the most during the off-season, not just because they were the reigning champions, but because, unlike many teams, they didn’t stop rebuilding after they won. They added key players and clutch stars to pivot their team to yet another championship win. They even got the crown of “baseball’s evil empire,” and they wore this crown proudly. But evil empire or not, it’s starting to feel like the evil eye found its mark, because things have been haywire for them.

They are in a chaotic mess, with tens of players injured, struggling with inconsistency, and also just having lost to their rivals—the Giants! They knocked the Dodgers off their perch, at least for now. And while LA scrambles to steady the ship, one name has emerged as a much-needed spark—Hyeseong Kim.

Ever since his debut on May 5, the 26-year-old Korean star has quietly made himself indispensable. So much so that even MLB couldn’t help but talk about him and drop a shocking prediction, too.

MLB.com on their out-of-the-box all-star candidates said, “It took Kim a little while to crack the Dodgers’ big league roster, but since he finally got the call-up at the beginning of May, he’s been fantastic. The former Korean league star is batting .391 with two home runs, six steals, and a .997 OPS in his first 29 games as a Dodger… He’s playing like an All-Star.” And well, they are absolutely spot on.

This is because whenever Hyeseong Kim is in the starting lineup, the Dodgers seem to click. Their record with him is a solid 12-7, and without him, 6-11. Is it a coincidence? Maybe, but his numbers definitely point otherwise. He has been raking, batting .391 across 64 at-bats with 25 hits, 2 home runs, and 10 RBIs. Plus, Kim’s on-base percentage is at .435, and his OPS is pushing an eye-watering .997. So when MLB says Kim is all-star territory, they are not far off from making this claim. And it’s not just that; Kim is not just an offensive weapon but a utility dream too. From second base to shortstop to left field, he is ready for all, offering the flexibility the Dodgers need.

Talking about him earlier this month, Dave Roberts, the Dodgers’ manager, said, “Hyeseong, there’s just something about him. That youthful enthusiasm, that joy, he’s just happy to be out there, happy to be on the team, and guys feed off the energy, and he takes really good at-bats, he competes. And, you know, giving him some runway, he’s making good on and taking advantage of it.” And it’s paying off too.

His OPS+ of 183 is not just overpowering the league average. But he is essentially setting a new rookie standard at the moment. As the Los Angeles Dodgers prep to battle the Giants again, Kim may be the X-factor LA didn’t know it needed.

Dodgers feel the heat as Giants tie up the West

While Kim has been phenomenal, the truth is the Los Angeles Dodgers as a whole have been struggling. And Friday night revealed the cracks in them, as they lost to the Giants. And it came into the hands of two key SF Giants players—Casey Schmitt and Logan Webb. Schmitt had crushed a grand slam off Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Webb did what he does best—shut the door on opposing offenses with calm, quiet dominance.

The result was a 6-2 win at Dodger Stadium! Webb in particular was smooth as ever, going seven strong innings, giving up two runs, walking three, and striking out four. He didn’t just dominate; he made a little history while doing it. According to MLB.com, “Tonight was Logan Webb’s 38th start of 7+ innings since the start of 2023, 3 more than anyone else in MLB in that span.” So that is simply workhorse status. Sure, he might not get the flashy headlines, but he is quietly but surely one of the best starters in baseball.

Webb’s career ERA sits at 3.34, and he has had four straight seasons with double-digit wins—and that should close the discussion on how good he is. Meanwhile, on the other hand, Yamamoto has been anything but great that night. But as the Dodgers reel from a rather poor performance by him, the series now shifts to Saturday. Then all eyes will be on Clayton Kershaw, who is easing his way back to return. He’ll go head-to-head with Giants youngster Landon Roupp.

Two games are still left in the series and could set the tone for the division moving forward. Who do you think will win the next one?