Braves’ Rising Star Ha-Seong Kim Faces Devastating 4-5 Month Absence After Mysterious Ice Slip—What This Means for 2026 Season!
The Atlanta Braves are facing a tough blow as they kick off the new season without their starting shortstop, Ha-Seong Kim. Just recently, while back in South Korea, Kim encountered a mishap—he slipped on ice, resulting in a serious hand injury. The Braves broke the news on Sunday, revealing that Kim required surgery to mend a torn tendon in his right middle finger—a procedure that took place back home in Atlanta. Now, he’s staring down a recovery period that could keep him sidelined for anywhere between four to five months. This means fans won’t see Kim fencing it up at shortstop until mid-May or even June, a considerable chunk of the season to miss.
Kim’s journey with the Braves is pretty interesting. The team scooped him up off waivers last September after he began the previous season with the Tampa Bay Rays. Due to a shoulder surgery he underwent late in 2024, his debut for the Braves was delayed until July 4. Not one to rest on past deals, Kim ditched a player option for his final season and secured a fresh one-year contract worth $20 million, pocketing a nice $4 million raise in the process. Ranked 25th on Yahoo Sports’ Top 50 MLB free-agent list, the 30-year-old brought solid numbers last season with three home runs and 12 RBIs in just 24 games. He’s been making waves since kicking off his MLB career with the San Diego Padres in 2021.
Last season wasn’t the Braves’ finest hour—they finished 76-86 and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2017, which also happens to be the last time they ended a campaign with a losing record. That disappointing run saw longtime manager Brian Snitker stepping down, with bench coach Walt Weiss taking the reins last November. As the Braves prepare to open their 2026 campaign against the Kansas City Royals on March 27, all eyes will be on how they navigate their season without Kim’s steady glove up the middle.
The Atlanta Braves will be without starting shortstop Ha-Seong Kim to start the season.
Kim suffered a hand injury while in South Korea recently, the team announced Sunday. According to MLB.com’s Mark Bowman, Kim suffered the injury after slipping and falling on ice. He underwent surgery to repair a torn tendon in his right middle finger in Atlanta, and will spend the next four to five months recovering.
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That means that Kim wouldn’t make his season debut with the Braves until mid-May or sometime in June.
The Braves first claimed Kim off waivers last September after he started the season with the Tampa Bay Rays. He didn’t make his debut last season until July 4 due to right shoulder surgery he underwent late in 2024. Kim then declined a player option for the final season, and ended up striking a new one-year, $20 million deal with the Braves. That new contract gave him a $4 million raise.
[Get more Braves news: Atlanta team feed]
Kim was No. 25 in Yahoo Sports’ Top 50 MLB free-agent rankings.
The 30-year-old had three home runs and 12 RBI in 24 games with the Braves last season, his fifth in the league. Kim got his start with the San Diego Padres in 2021.
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The Braves went 76-86 last season and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2017, which was also the last time the franchise finished a campaign with a losing record. That led to longtime manager Brian Snitker stepping down. The team then opted to promote bench coach Walt Weiss to replace him in November.
The Braves will open the 2026 season on March 27 against the Kansas City Royals.
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