Kim Ha-seong of the Atlanta Braves finally made his Major League Baseball return on May 13 (local time) after recovering from finger surgery. While he did not record a hit in his first game back, he drew a walk and showcased his Gold Glove-caliber defense at Truist Park in Atlanta.
Starting as the eighth-place hitter and shortstop against the Chicago Cubs, Kim went 0-for-3 with a walk in his first big league appearance of the 2026 season. His timing at the plate appeared slightly off after the long layoff. In his first at-bat in the third inning, with a runner on first and no outs, he grounded out to second baseman Nico Hoerner on a slider from Cubs starter Colin Rea. He flew out in the fifth and grounded out in the eighth. However, in the sixth inning, with the Braves leading 5-2 and a runner on first, Kim calmly worked a walk to reach base.
Defensively, Kim reminded everyone why he won a Gold Glove in 2023. With the game tied 1-1 in the top of the fourth, the bases loaded and one out, he made a diving stop on a sharp grounder from Moises Ballesteros to record an out. Had the ball slipped past him into the outfield, the Cubs would have scored two runs. Instead, Atlanta allowed only one run that inning. In the eighth, he smoothly handled a short-hop grounder, drawing applause from pitcher Dylan Lee.
The Braves defeated the Cubs 5-2, extending their winning streak to three games. Atlanta, currently first in the National League East, improved to 29-13, boasting the best winning percentage in MLB at .690.
After the 2025 season, Kim tested free agency, but due to a history of injuries, the market was cool. He eventually re-signed with Atlanta on a one-year, $20 million deal, effectively opting for a free agency reset. Then, during the offseason while staying in South Korea, he slipped on icy pavement, rupturing a tendon in his right middle finger. After surgery and rehab, he began a minor league assignment on April 30 to regain his timing, finally returning to the big leagues on May 13.
