The Braves May Have Lucked Into Their Shortstop for 2026

Background

Ha-Seong Kim spent seven seasons in the KBO with the Kiwoom Heroes, debuting at age 18. Across his tenure, Kim posted an impressive .294/.373/.493 slash line with a .866 OPS and three Gold Gloves.

Following the 2020 season, he was made available for posting and eventually signed with the San Diego Padres on a four-year, $28 million deal, with a mutual option for a fifth year.

Across four seasons in San Diego, Kim established himself as a versatile defender and solid offensive contributor, batting .242 with a .706 OPS while earning a Gold Glove and finishing 14th in NL MVP voting in 2023.

He opted out after 2024, but coming off labrum surgery, his free-agent market was cooler than expected.

The Rays signed him to a two-year, $28 million deal with a player option for 2026. It was a relatively surprising signing, as most assumed Kim would end up in San Diego, Detroit , or even in Atlanta. In fact, Kim was one of my main targets this past offseason for Atlanta.

Injuries limited him to just 24 games in Tampa Bay, where he battles just .214 with a .612 OPS and 73 wRC+ before returning to the IL with a lower back strain.

While on the IL, the Rays placed him on waivers to promote Just Baseball’s No. 27 prospect Carson Williams. Atlanta pounced quickly and claimed Kim for the remainder of the 2025 season.

Kim’s Impact in Atlanta

For Kim, this month in Atlanta has been a one-month showcase, and he’s seizing the moment.

Kim (25) signifies stats in Atlanta only.

In 19 games, he’s slashed .309/.372/.456 with an .828 OPS, giving the Braves a spark offensively and stabilizing the lineup.

Atlanta’s offense has been one of the hottest in baseball this month with a .262 AVG (8th), .328 OBP (7th), .436 SLG (6th), .764 OPS (4th), .331 wOBA (4th) 112 wRC+ (5th), and scoring 106 runs (2nd).

Being a small sample size of just 19 games, it is understandable to assume a regression may come to Kim’s numbers. The good part is that even what he averaged in his last three seasons with San Diego would be a huge upgrade from what Atlanta has seen these past few seasons at the shortstop position.

Defensively, Kim hasn’t yet returned to his Gold Glove form, grading at -4 Outs Above Average with below-average arm strength in 2025. But given his track record and the fact that he’s finally getting healthy, there’s every reason to believe he’ll bounce back in 2026.

Atlanta has a history of great defensive shortstops with the likes of Andrelton Simmons, Dansby Swanson, Nick Allen, and Kim fits perfectly in that lineage.

What Should Atlanta Do?

The decision of whether or not Kim will return to Atlanta technically rests with Kim and his agent, Scott Boras.

Before this September surge, it was a safe bet Kim would simply pick up his $16 million option for 2026. But with his strong finish in Atlanta, the calculus may have changed. Could he test the market again?

This is where Anthopoulos needs to step in. This team cannot afford to let Kim walk. Even if it requires a classic Anthopoulos-style extension by buying out the option and adding security for both sides, Atlanta has to make every effort.

Yes, Boras usually pushes his clients to free agency. But this situation may be different. Kim has quickly integrated into the clubhouse, reunited with friend and teammate Jurickson Profar, and been embraced by Braves fans. He has a clear everyday role in Atlanta, and realistically, his market won’t approach the mega-deals we’ve seen for shortstops like Willy Adames, Carlos Correa, or Dansby Swanson.

If the Braves let Kim reach free agency, the alternatives are shaky at best.

Bo Bichette will headline the class, but he’ll command a massive deal and carries serious defensive concerns. Trevor Story could hit the market too if he decides to opt out of his deal in Boston. But at 33 with and his injury history, he’s far from a reliable long-term answer.

Looking further down the road, the upcoming free-agent classes are thin, and top options like Gunnar Henderson or Jeremy Peña won’t be financially realistic for Atlanta.

Internally, the Braves do have intriguing prospects in Tate Southisene, Alex Lodise, and John Gil, but the earliest ETA for any of them is 2027, and even that’s pushing it. The Braves can’t punt on 2026 and hope one of those players develops into the answer.

The Bottom Line

Atlanta is not in a position to run back Nick Allen as the everyday shortstop and expect to contend. Add in Ozzie Albies’ latest hamate bone injury, and the middle infield outlook for the 2026 as things sit today are uneasy.

The team needs a shortstop who provides both defense and offensive competence, and Kim has already shown he can be that player.

Ha-Seong Kim should be an Atlanta Brave in 2026, and ideally beyond. Whether through his option or a long-term deal, Anthopoulos has to make it happen. The Braves may have stumbled into this opportunity by claiming him off waivers, but now they can’t afford to let him slip away.

Stats were taken prior to play on September 23.