Kim Hye-seong of the Los Angeles Dodgers speaks to reporters at Incheon International Airport, Tuesday, before traveling to the United States. Yonhap

Kim Hye-seong, the latest South Korean player for the Los Angeles Dodgers, departed for the United States on Tuesday, determined to crack the Opening Day roster and make his big league debut as soon as possible.

Kim signed a three-year, $12.5 million contract with the Dodgers on Jan. 3, the final day of his 30-day negotiating period after his posting process began in early December. The Dodgers have a club option for two more years, which will increase the total value of Kim's deal to a maximum of $22 million.

Including option years, Kim could have had a chance to make up to $28 million over five years with the Los Angeles Angels, but he chose the 2024 World Series champions instead.

"The Dodgers are a great team, and I grew up watching them play quite a bit because of Korean players there," Kim told reporters at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, before heading to the team's spring training site in Arizona. "It will be an honor to make my major league debut with the club I watched on television. I want to make it happen as quickly as I can. My immediate goal is to make the Opening Day roster."

Kim revealed that the Dodgers were the first team to contact him after he was posted and added, "I was so grateful for that."

An All-Star second baseman for the Kiwoom Heroes in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) for the past few years, Kim is expected to be a utility player for the Dodgers and handle multiple positions across the field.

Kim has some experience playing shortstop, third base and the two corner outfield positions in the KBO. The Dodgers have plenty of middle infielders, though they addressed their logjam by trading Gavin Lux, their primary second baseman last year, on Jan. 6, three days after acquiring Kim.

However, veteran utility players Chris Taylor and Miguel Rojas are still around, and Tommy Edman, a former Gold Glove winner at second base now playing center field, is also able to handle middle infield duties in a pinch. Mookie Betts, a perennial All-Star expected to be the starting shortstop, can also play second base. Kim will have to earn his playing time through his first spring training, which begins next month.

"My mindset has not changed after the trade," Kim said. "It will be my first year and I will have to work hard to earn my opportunity."

Asked what he can do to become a big leaguer from the get-go, Kim said, "I have to play better than I did last year. I want to be able to capitalize on my strengths and help the team the best I can."

In his eight KBO seasons, Kim batted .304/.364/.403. With only 37 home runs in 953 games, including a career-high 11 in 2024, Kim has never been a power hitter. But he stole a KBO-best 211 bags between 2018, his first full season, and 2024, while only being caught 37 times. A former national high school batter of the year, Kim batted at least .300 in each of the past four seasons.

The KBO created the Fielding Award in 2023 to recognize defensive excellence, and Kim won the first two editions at second base in 2023 and 2024.

He is also a four-time recipient of the Golden Glove, awarded to the best overall player at each position, winning it as shortstop in 2021 and as second baseman from 2022 to 2024.

Kim said the Dodgers' infield depth didn't dissuade him from signing with them.

"It's not as though I won't have competition on a different team. Since this is my first year, I thought I would have to battle for my playing time no matter where I ended up," he said. "Ultimately, I decided I'd try to do that on the Dodgers."

As for the positions he may play for the Dodgers, Kim said, "I want to be able to handle whatever position the team asks me to play."

Kim said he received plenty of tips from his former Heroes teammate and close friend, San Francisco Giants outfielder Lee Jung-hoo. Lee signed with the Giants in December 2023 and shared with Kim what he'd learned during his first year in the majors on and off the field.

With the Dodgers and the Giants being bitter rivals in the National League West, the two friends will get to meet more than a few times, if Kim realizes his goal of making the Dodgers roster.

"It's going to be fun facing Jung-hoo. I've only done that in scrimmages," Kim said with a smile. "I will try to catch everything he hits."

Kim, who wore No. 3 in the KBO, will don No. 6, with Taylor having his South Korean number. Former Dodgers star Trea Turner wore No. 6, and Kim said Turner is one of his favorite players.

"Hopefully, I can also play well wearing the same number as Trea Turner," Kim said. (Yonhap)