Braves shortstop Ha-Seong Kim suffers hand injury, will miss 4-5 months

The Braves had essentially no offensive production from their shortstops, Orlando Arcia and Nick Allen, a year ago. It led them to claim Kim on waivers with a month remaining in the season, hoping a successful trial period would lead to a longer union — and it did. Kim hit .253/.316/.368 in 24 games, proving himself a solid all-around shortstop and an ideal clubhouse fit.

But now Kim will miss his second consecutive opening day, as he rehabs from offseason surgery. He didn’t play until July in 2025 due to winter shoulder surgery. He also spent more time on the injured list after returning due to a calf strain and back issues.

Still, Kim’s Braves stint went well enough that he declined his $16 million player option, entered free agency and received a raise from his incumbent club. But now the Braves will be without the shortstop they deemed worthy of a $20 million commitment.

The four-to-five-month expected absence encompasses everything before Kim’s return to major-league games. In other words, it represents his entire process, including restarting baseball activity and going on a rehab assignment, before rejoining the team. So Kim’s earliest projected return would be around mid-May.

The team will likely turn to newcomer Mauricio Dubon in Kim’s absence. The Braves acquired Dubon from Houston before the nontender trade deadline, and the franchise’s brain trust expressed confidence in Dubon as a starting shortstop if the Braves were unable to retain Kim or acquire another bona fide option.

Dubon is a career .257/.295/.374 hitter who’s played every position but pitcher and catcher. He’s won consecutive Gold Gloves as a utilityman. He logged a career-high 206-1/3 innings at shortstop last season, and Braves president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos previously expressed confidence Dubon could handle the position regularly if needed.

It’s needed. This is why the Braves are paying Dubon just over $6 million, valuing his versatility and knowing how important his skill set could be, particularly given how the Braves have been hit by injuries in recent years.

Indeed, it’s an unnerving start to 2026 for the Braves, who’ve endured seemingly endless bad injury luck since 2024. They overcame it enough to qualify for the postseason in ’24, but they were swiftly eliminated by the Padres. They couldn’t overcome the injuries last season, leading to a 76-win campaign that left them watching the postseason from home for the first time since 2017.

The Braves have had a busy winter, one that included upgrading their depth. The Dubon acquisition already looms large. But it’s unfortunate for the Braves and Kim that this pivotal season will be delayed.

Spring training is mere weeks away. The Braves’ pitchers and catchers report to North Port, Florida, on Feb. 10, and the first full-squad workout is Feb. 15. The team opens the regular season March 27 against the Royals at Truist Park.