Dodgers' most competitive spring training battle will finally give Hyeseong Kim a chance to shine

After leaving fans to wonder about Tommy Edman's status for months, Dodgers GM Brandon Gomes finally admitted that the second baseman won't be ready by Opening Day after an offseason ankle surgery.

Edman's five-year, $74 million contract extension isn't looking very good right now, but the Dodgers don't actually have to care that much. $74 million ($12.1 million in 2026) is a drop in the bucket to them.

And it should open up an interesting competition in spring training. There was little for fans to wonder about last year, apart from who might get the last few bullpen spots, but a fight for second base between Miguel Rojas, Hyeseong Kim, Alex Freeland, and Andy Ibáñez has the potential to be a lot more entertaining.

There are pros and cons for all of these guys, but we'll stump for the Comet. He had a difficult spring training last year, which got him demoted to Triple-A to start the season, but the real potential he showed during limited playing time from May onward made fans urge the Dodgers to give him a real chance.

Competition is going to be steep, but this is his time to make an impression.

Hyeseong Kim should be the favorite in Dodgers' 2B spring training roster battle after Tommy Edman injury

The Dodgers may be inclined to go first to World Series hero Rojas, whose veteran leadership is something the Dodgers are always talking up. But Rojas turns 37 before Opening Day, and his offense at the bottom of the lineup has been an incredible source of frustration for Dodgers fans previously.

Then there's top prospect Freeland — who needs more of a lane in the majors and is a switch-hitter like Edman — and Ibáñez, who would fit nicely at the bottom of the Dodgers' projected Opening Day lineup as a lefty-killing righty behind lefty Andy Pages.

But Kim is younger than Rojas (and faster), and immediately established himself as a better No. 9 bat to give Shohei Ohtani RBI opportunities last year. It feels unlikely that the Dodgers give Freeland an everyday role from Day 1, and Ibáñez feels like little more than a bench piece.

Kim gets on a base at a nice clip. He's one of the fastest runners on a very slow Dodgers team. He's making $4 million this year and, even though that's even more negligible than Edman's $12.1 million, the Dodgers should actually try to get their money's worth. Fans are dying to see it.