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Kim Hyun-soo won’t be on Orioles’ Opening Day roster

March 29, 2016
Baltimore Orioles' Kim Hyun-soo, of South Korea, reacts after getting called out on strikes as Toronto Blue Jays' Jesse Chavez get set to toss the ball to the pitcher during the first inning of a spring training baseball game Tuesday, March 15, 2016, in Dunedin, Fla. Catching for the Blue Jays is Russell Martin (55). (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

FILE — Baltimore Orioles’ Kim Hyun-soo, of South Korea, reacts after getting called out on strikes as Toronto Blue Jays’ Jesse Chavez get set to toss the ball to the pitcher during the first inning of a spring training baseball game Tuesday, March 15, 2016, in Dunedin, Fla.  (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) — South Korean outfielder Hyun Soo Kim won’t start the season with the Baltimore Orioles.

Kim, who signed a two-year, $7 million contract with the Orioles last December, must agree to any minor league assignment.

“Yes, it looks like he’s not going to be on the 25-man roster to start the season,” Orioles executive Dan Duquette said Tuesday.

“I think in these cases the transition takes some time. I believe he wants to give it some more time,” Duquette said.

When approached by reporters on Sunday, Kim said he was happy he signed with Baltimore.

Over the weekend, Manager Buck Showalter said that he hadn’t made up his mind about Kim.

“He’s competing,” he said. “We’ll see what the next few days bring. We’ve got some tough decisions to make.”

Kim began the spring without a hit in his first 23 at-bats and is batting .182 without an extra-base hit.