After avoiding a release crisis, Kim Ha-seong was left out of the starting lineup for the Atlanta Braves' home game against the Miami Marlins on August 5. He will remain on the bench for this game.
According to Yonhap News, the Braves faced a decision on whether to trade or release Kim ahead of the trade deadline. Ultimately, the team opted to bring Kim back while placing Jorge Mateo, who has a batting average of .240 (11 hits in 129 at-bats), 4 home runs, and 10 stolen bases this season, on the release waiver list.
Local evaluations of Kim's return to the big leagues are mixed. The Athletic reported that when Atlanta signed Kim to a one-year, $20 million contract before the season, few expected rookie Jim Jarvis to emerge as the starting shortstop by August.
The report noted, "Jarvis has shown a batting average above .250 along with excellent defensive and base-running skills, which has allowed him to secure the starting position." It added that Atlanta's decision to place Mateo on the waiver list was to give Jarvis more opportunities, predicting that it would be difficult for Kim to reclaim the starting shortstop role after returning from the injured list.
Sporting News commented that it was surprising Atlanta did not release Kim. The outlet stated, "Kim has not met expectations in MLB or even in Triple-A, and while it would be financially understandable to release him considering the contract, it is hard to justify based on performance."
The report continued, "When healthy, Kim was a better shortstop than Mateo, but now he is closer to being a backup. He is likely to play a role as a pinch runner or in limited situations."
Last winter, Kim turned down a four-year, $48 million offer from the Oakland Athletics to sign with Atlanta for one year at $20 million, aiming to boost his value for a larger contract after the 2026 season.
However, Kim has struggled with injuries and poor performance throughout the season. He underwent surgery for a torn tendon in his right middle finger after slipping on ice in January and returned to the big leagues in mid-May, but managed only a .068 batting average (5 hits in 73 at-bats). Last month, he was placed back on the injured list due to inflammation in his right ring finger and has also struggled in Triple-A during his rehabilitation.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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