Ha-Seong Kim was slated to begin the 2026 season as the Atlanta Braves’ starting shortstop, but an offseason hand injury will keep him out for four to five months.
The Braves revealed Sunday that Kim tore a tendon in the ring finger of his right hand while in South Korea. He had surgery in Atlanta on Jan. 18.
The 30-year-old infielder joined Atlanta from the Tampa Bay Rays at last year’s trade deadline. In 24 games with the Braves, he batted .253 with three homers and 12 RBIs, then re-signed this offseason on a one-year deal worth $20 million.
Kim won a Gold Glove as a utilityman with the San Diego Padres in 2023 and was the favorite to start at shortstop this season in Atlanta. Instead, the Braves will likely have two-time Gold Glove utilityman Mauricio Dubon starting there on opening day.
In five major league seasons since signing with the Padres in 2021 after years in the KBO, Kim has hit .242/.324/.377 with 52 homers and 84 stolen bases.
