Los Angeles Dodgers utility man Hyeseong Kim was called up in early May as a temporary replacement for Tommy Edman, who landed on the injured list with an ankle injury.

Kim’s performance left the Dodgers no choice but to keep him on the big league roster; however, the 26-year-old hasn’t received ample playing time despite hitting .391 through his first 69 career plate appearances.

Kim has almost exclusively faced right-handed pitching throughout his early Dodgers tenure, and manager Dave Roberts believes the utility man’s platoon-role is what’s best for the roster.

This was evidenced in the Dodgers’ series against the division rival San Diego Padres when Kim was pulled out of Monday’s game in the eighth inning. Padres manager Mike Shildt deployed left-hander Adrian Morejon, and Roberts responded by sending Kiké Hernández in to pinch-hit for him.

Kim is 3-for-4 against left-handers this season, but the Dodgers skipper opted to put in Hernández, who struck out. Hernández has posted a .676 OPS In 60 plate appearances this season against lefties, but Roberts is counting on the utility man to improve as the season progresses.

“He’s got to be better versus left,” Roberts said of Hernández. “That’s just the way it is, you know. And he knows that, so I want to keep him involved as well.”

One of the biggest requests from the Dodgers fanbase this season is when Kim will be a regular starter in the lineup, but it appears the former KBO infielder has already proven he can be one.

“He’s doing everything he needs to do,” Roberts said of Kim earning more opportunities against left-handed pitchers.

Roberts is extremely meticulous in his decision-making and it appears he is taking a cautious approach to exposing Kim to lefties so early in his MLB career.