Braves' Kim Out 4-5 Months After Finger Surgery

Atlanta Braves shortstop HaSeong Kim underwent surgery Sunday to repair a torn tendon in his right middle finger, sidelining him for four to five months and forcing the team to adjust its plans for the start of the 2026 season.

The Braves announced the procedure, which was performed in Atlanta by Dr. Gary Lourie. Kim suffered the injury in his native South Korea after slipping and falling on ice, according to a report from MLB.com's Mark Bowman. The timeline for his recovery suggests he could return as early as mid-May or as late as late June, meaning he will miss at least the first two months of the regular season. The Braves open their 2026 schedule on March 27 against the Kansas City Royals.

Kim, a 30-year-old infielder from South Korea, joined the Braves late in the 2025 season after being claimed off waivers from the Tampa Bay Rays in September. He appeared in 24 games with Atlanta that year, batting .250 with three home runs and 12 RBI. In December, Kim signed a one-year, $20 million contract with the Braves, a $4 million raise from his previous player option, which he had declined. The deal addressed a key need at shortstop, where the team ranked last in the majors in...