Braves’ expected starting SS to miss 4-5 months following hand surgery

Expected to enter the 2026 season as the Atlanta Braves’ starting shortstop, Ha-Seong Kim will instead be sidelined four to five months due to an offseason injury to his hand.

The Braves announced Sunday that Kim suffered a torn tendon in his right ring finger while in his homeland of Korea. He underwent surgery Jan. 18 in Atlanta.

Kim, 30, was acquired by the Braves from the Tampa Bay Rays at last season’s trade deadline. He hit .253 with three home runs and 12 RBI in 24 games for Atlanta, and was re-signed to a one-year, $20 million contract this offseason.

Kim won a Gold Glove as a utilityman with the San Diego Padres in 2023 and was the favorite to start at shortstop this season in Atlanta. Instead, the Braves will likely have two-time Gold Glove utilityman Mauricio Dubon starting there on opening day.

In five major league seasons since signing with the Padres in 2021 after years in the KBO, Kim has hit .242/.324/.377 with 52 homers and 84 stolen bases.