Braves shortstop Kim Ha-seong out 4-5 months with finger injury

Atlanta Braves shortstop Ha-Seong Kim reacts during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Sept. 22, 2025, in Atlanta. AP-Yonhap

Atlanta Braves shortstop Kim Ha-seong will be sidelined for up to five months after undergoing surgery to repair a finger injury.

The Braves announced Sunday (local time) that Kim had surgery on a torn tendon in his right middle finger, and his recovery time is expected to be four to five months.

According to the club, Kim sustained the injury after slipping on a sheet of ice in his native South Korea last week.

Kim signed a one-year, $20 million contract with the Braves as a free agent in December, returning to the team with whom he'd spent the final portion of the injury-plagued 2025 season.

Following four seasons with the San Diego Padres, Kim signed a two-year contract with the Tampa Bay Rays in February 2025 but started that campaign on the injured list while recovering from shoulder surgery he'd undergone the previous fall.

Kim's injury rehab was interrupted by hamstring issues. And after he came back, Kim dealt with calf and back problems.

Kim appeared in 24 games for the Rays and then 24 games for the Braves last year — batting .214 with two homers and five RBIs for the former, and .253 with three homers and 12 RBIs for the latter.

At his best, Kim, a Gold Glove winner at the utility spot in 2023, can be a high-end, versatile defender who can also offer some pop at the plate and speed on the bases. In that 2023 season, Kim set career highs with 17 home runs and 38 steals.

The latest injury will also keep Kim out of the World Baseball Classic, scheduled for March 5 to 17. Kim would have been South Korea's starting shortstop in the tournament.