The Atlanta Braves haven’t had the season anyone expected. Plagued by injuries and inconsistent play, the team has struggled to find its rhythm. While slumps are a normal part of any season, for Atlanta, it felt like the entire roster went cold from June through August. Now, with the final month of the season underway, it’s expected to be Brian Snitker’s last as Braves manager.
“Because of that consistent recent success, Snit would normally be afforded a ‘mulligan’ year—even though going from the second-best preseason World Series odds to possibly the third-best odds of winning the draft lottery is a pretty serious mulligan,” Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller wrote. “At 69, though, he’s already the oldest manager in the National League by a several-year margin and was likely to retire at the end of this season, which is the last one in his current contract.”
Changes are expected this offseason, and shortstop is definitely a position to watch. However, the Braves may have already found their shortstop of the future after claiming Ha-Seong Kim off waivers.
“The Atlanta Braves, hoping to shore up an uncertain middle-infield situation for next season, claimed Ha-Seong Kim off waivers from the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday. The 29-year-old Kim, who can play shortstop and second base, is owed roughly $2 million for the remainder of the 2025 season and another $16 million in 2026,” ESPN’s Aiden Gonzalez wrote.
Kim made his Braves debut on Tuesday, and by Wednesday, he had already made a significant impact.
“That 3-run HR from Ha-Seong Kim is the first home run by a Braves shortstop this year … and the first since Orlando Arcia did it on September 20, 2024 against the Marlins,” 680 The Fan posted.
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Kim now has the opportunity to prove himself as the Braves’ everyday shortstop heading into next season. With limited options in free agency—and considering Atlanta’s typically conservative approach in the market—Kim’s $16 million salary for 2026 looks like a bargain. As a former All-Star and NL Gold Glove winner, he brings both defensive excellence and offensive potential. If his early contributions are any indication, the Braves may have found their answer at shortstop.
