The Atlanta Braves hoped that signing Ha-Seong Kim to a one-year, $20 million deal would be great for them. Unfortunately, fans will have to wait a little while before seeing Kim back in action, as he injured himself this offseason.
Kim suffered a freak injury when he slipped on a sheet of ice while back home in Korea. This caused him to need surgery to repair a torn tendon in his right middle finger. This happened in January, and the expected recovery time was estimated at 4 to 5 months.
There was optimism that he would return at some point in May. However, with an injury like that, they'll have to take it one day at a time.
Ha-Seong Kim's encouraging injury update gives Braves fans a glimmer of hope
Kim reported to camp on Monday and would be doing fielding drills. He is not ready to start swinging a bat just yet. Braves insider Mark Bowman spoke with Kim, and the shortstop stated he didn't have a specific timeline but would try to return as soon as possible.
We won't know more until he begins doing more on the field. Once he's able to field and hit with no further issues, he can work towards returning to the active roster. Kim seems very bothered that his injury has kept him from helping out the team. This is a stark contrast from Jurickson Profar, who selfishly hurt the team two years in a row.
Braves shortstop Ha-Seong Kim has arrived in camp. He’s not swinging a bat yet. But he is doing some fielding drills. pic.twitter.com/STHmxxbwor
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) March 16, 2026
However, he hasn't let this setback keep him down, as he's worked on having a positive mindset throughout the process.
“I’m told that with rehab, you can fully recover from this,” Kim said. “So I'm trying to stay in a positive mindset every day and do my part to get back on the field as soon as possible.”
Atlanta will look forward to his return, as their depth has taken a hit with Kim's injury and Profar's suspension. Mauricio Dubon should do a great job covering the starting job at short, but adding Kim back into the mix will significantly improve the bench depth.
Kim produced a .684 OPS over 24 games for the Braves last season. That's a far cry from his impressive 2023 season with the Padres. Hopefully, once he returns, the Braves will see him return to that form. Manager Walt Weiss knows the kind of player he has waiting in the wings.
“He’s a good baserunner. He can steal bases. He's a tough out. There's some power there. He defends. So, he's just a really well-rounded player.”
Having a well-rounded player like that on your roster makes a massive difference. His impact on the team cannot be overstated. Braves fans deserve some good news for once, and maybe Kim's return to baseball activities will be the start of that.