Ha-Seong Kim to miss 4-5 months after finger surgery; Braves lose key starting shortstop again

Only a month after securing Ha-Seong Kim with a one-year $20 million contract, the Atlanta Braves revealed today that this newly acquired shortstop will begin the new season on the injured list for the second straight year.

Ha-Seong Kim has had surgery to fix a torn tendon in his right middle finger, with an anticipated recovery period of 4-5 months. The procedure was carried out by orthopedic expert Dr. Gary Lourie. This means the Braves may not see the Korean shortstop return until mid-May or possibly June, opening the door for Mauricio Dubón to take on the role of starting shortstop in the upcoming season.

Kim injured his right middle finger last week while slipping on ice in South Korea. The 30-year-old shortstop missed the first three months of the 2025 season due to surgery for a torn labrum in his right shoulder and also sat out part of last season because of back discomfort. He was traded from the Tampa Bay Rays to the Braves via the waiver process last September and posted an OPS of 0.684 in 24 games.

Despite recent injuries, Kim remained a sought-after player in this winter’s free agent market, where shortstops were in short supply. This injury will force the Braves to wait several more months before they can evaluate whether he can return to the form he showed in 2023 with the San Diego Padres, when he hit 17 home runs and had an OPS of 0.749.

During his time with the Houston Astros, Mauricio Dubón won two Gold Gloves (in 2023 and 2025) as a utility player, with his greatest value coming from his excellent defensive versatility. Braves manager Walt Weiss has repeatedly expressed strong confidence in Dubón’s ability to serve as a long-term starting shortstop.