[MyDaily = Reporter Jinseong Kim] Can Atlanta afford to keep a 20 million USD (approximately 26.7 billion KRW) player on the bench?
This has been a tough summer for Kim Ha-seong (31, Atlanta Braves). He sat out the Red Sox game on the 29th (KST) and missed the opener of the three-game series in Cincinnati on the 30th. Backup Jorge Mateo started at shortstop in consecutive games and provided excellent value — two hits on the 29th and a hit, a walk and a run on the 30th.
Atlanta manager Walt Weiss told MLB.com he understands Kim’s situation. Weiss missed a season with injury during his playing days and returned midseason, so he sympathizes with what Kim is going through. Weiss said Kim had a solid batting practice that day and the team would give him a few days to prepare before putting him back in the lineup.
Through 12 games, Kim is 4-for-42 (.095) with 2 RBIs, 4 runs, one stolen base and a .286 OPS. He has no extra-base hits and has committed three errors. That’s not the Kim Braves fans have come to expect on either side of the ball. Weiss prefers to have a struggling hitter work on timing in practice instead of forcing him into games prematurely.
That leaves Kim in a precarious spot. Along with Mateo, Mauricio Dubón — who has seen more outfield time recently — gives Atlanta options. At a 20 million USD (approximately 26.7 billion KRW) salary, Kim now faces a real battle with Dubón and Mateo for playing time.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution asked on the 30th, “Can the team sit a 20 million USD (approximately 26.7 billion KRW) player on the bench?” The paper wrote that if the trend continues, Atlanta may have to consider it, noting Mateo and Dubón are viable shortstop options.
The Journal-Constitution added that the two players account for 35.5% of the 2026 payroll yet have been playing sensationally. By contrast, it pointed out Kim’s January slip on ice in Korea — which tore a finger tendon — was an ominous sign.
Weiss again defended Kim to the Journal-Constitution, saying it will be tough for him to come back under these circumstances. He missed spring training, and it’s not easy to jump into games after such a long layoff. The pace at the major-league level is very fast, and rehab doesn’t fully replicate that intensity, so it takes time to catch up.
He added, “We all know Kim’s ability. He’s been a very good major leaguer. We need to be patient early on, and he has to catch up to the game’s speed.” The remarks were supportive but delivered a clear mandate: adapt quickly. There aren’t many other options — his big-league future is on the line.
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