Braves SS Ha-Seong Kim out 4-5 months due to hand injury after slipping on ice, will miss start of 2026 season
The Atlanta Braves' offseason plans have hit a significant early snag. Newly re-signed starting shortstop Ha-Seong Kim will miss the start of the 2026 season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn tendon in his right middle finger, the team announced Sunday.
Kim sustained the unusual injury after slipping and falling on ice while in his native South Korea. The procedure, performed in Atlanta, comes with a projected recovery timeline of four to five months, meaning the 30-year-old infielder is unlikely to make his season debut until mid-May or June.
The setback is a major blow for a Braves team looking to rebound from a disappointing 76-86 campaign in 2025, their first losing season and playoff miss since 2017. Kim, who signed a one-year, $20 million deal with Atlanta this winter after declining a player option, was a key part of their intended turnaround.
Kim's Braves tenure has been plagued by injury. He didn't debut until July 4 last season after being claimed off waivers from Tampa Bay, due to recovery from right shoulder surgery performed late in 2024. In his limited 24-game stint with Atlanta, he hit three home runs with 12 RBI.
The Braves, now under new manager Walt Weiss, will need to find an immediate solution at shortstop. The club opens its season on March 27 against the Kansas City Royals.
