Braves find their stopgap at shortstop after Ha-Seong Kim's injury

One day after the Atlanta Braves received news that their shortstop for 2026, Ha-Seong Kim, suffered a hand injury, they found their stopgap at shortstop until his return. Atlanta announced it signed veteran utility man Jorge Mateo to a one-year deal.

Mateo, 30, has spent the last five seasons with the Baltimore Orioles, and though he has turned in an overall underwhelming career in the big leagues, he has still been a productive player. In six seasons, Mateo has a career batting average of .221 and an OPS of .629, but he's one of MLB's better base-stealers, stealing 106 career bags and leading the American League in steals in 2022 (35).

Jorge Mateo adds value to Braves roster despite offensive struggles

Though he hasn’t performed well at the plate, the Braves didn’t sign Mateo for his bat but for his glove and base-running skills. Mateo has played all over the diamond but predominantly up the middle of the field as a shortstop/second baseman and centerfielder. 

In five seasons as a shortstop, Mateo has provided a defensive runs saved of seven while adding above-average defense in center (six) and at second (two). Once Kim returns (possibly in June), Mateo could wind up finding himself on the wrong side of being DFA’d or provide valuable depth as a potential platoon bat for Michael Harris II, who had a down year in 2025 — .249 average with a .678 OPS, both career lows.