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Ha-Seong Kim #9 of the Atlanta Braves rounds the bases after hitting home run against the Detroit Tigers during the fourth inning at Comerica Park on September 21, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
The Atlanta Braves continue to be allergic to losing this season, sitting at 36-16 with a 10.5-game lead in the National League East.
They are currently taking on the Washington Nationals in a three-game Memorial Day weekend set. On Friday night, Chadwick Tromp was the hero with a pair of clutch hits in extra innings to lift the Braves to a 5-4 win. On Saturday, the Braves play at 4:10 p.m. EST, and before the Nationals game, Atlanta announced its lineup, which does not feature Ha-Seong Kim.
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GettyWASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 16: Ha-Seong Kim #9 and Jose Suarez #54 of the Atlanta Braves celebrate after a play against the Washington Nationals during the seventh inning in game one of a split doubleheader at Nationals Park on September 16, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
For the second time in the last three games, Ha-Seong Kim is absent from the Atlanta Braves’ order. In the offseason, Ha-Seong Kim signed a one-year, $20 million contract with the Braves after being claimed from the Rays late in 2025. Also in the offseason, the Braves completed a player-swap deal with the Houston Astros for Mauricio Dubon.
CBSSports writes (on May 23): “Kim has notched a base hit and scored a run in each of his last three games, but he’ll take a seat on the bench Saturday while Mauricio Dubon starts at shortstop, batting seventh.”
The Braves may feel more comfortable with Dubon’s bat in the lineup, given his early impact with the team.
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GettyATLANTA, GEORGIA – SEPTEMBER 9: Ha-Seong Kim #9 of the Atlanta Braves throws to first base in the seventh inning of a game against the Chicago Cubs at Truist Park on September 9, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Edward M. Pio Roda/Getty Images)
It’s been a very limited sample size, but Ha-Seong Kim has struggled a bit to start 2026.
In 31 at-bats, he has a -0.4 bWAR, a .129 average with four hits and zero extra-base hits.
Over 133 total at-bats (two seasons) with the Braves, Kim is hitting .220 with an OPS+ of 71.
The only thing holding back the Ha-Seong Kim contract decision from being a big failure is the fact that the Braves appear not to really need him.
You can’t blame Atlanta’s front office either because they were at such a crossroads with the shortstop position last season, and made it a point of emphasis to spend some money on potentially valuable players.
Ha-Seong Kim will certainly get more chances in the future to be the starting shortstop, but if he doesn’t produce soon with the bat, Atlanta will be left no choice but to continue rolling with Mauricio Dubon.
GettyHa-Seong Kim #9 of the Atlanta Braves celebrates after hitting a two-run home run against the Detroit Tigers during the top of the eighth inning at Comerica Park on September 19, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
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TJ French covers the MLB for Heavy. TJ is a graduate of the University of Georgia. He has 2+ years of writing experience. Follow TJ French on X: @tj_french5 More about TJ French
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