If anyone within the Atlanta Braves organization was quietly hoping that the long, grueling run of bad injury luck might finally ease once the calendar flipped to the offseason, that optimism has already been crushed. Once again, before the team has even had a chance to regroup and prepare for the upcoming campaign, the Braves have been dealt another brutal setback—one that feels all too familiar given what they’ve endured over the past two years.
On Sunday, the club confirmed troubling news that sent another wave of frustration through the fanbase. Newly signed infielder Ha-Seong Kim suffered a torn tendon in the middle finger of his right hand while in South Korea.
The injury required surgery, and while the procedure was reportedly successful, the recovery timeline is anything but encouraging. Kim is expected to be sidelined for approximately four to five months, meaning the Braves will likely be without one of their most important offseason additions for a significant chunk of the 2026 season.
For a franchise that has repeatedly watched its depth tested beyond reasonable limits, this injury feels especially cruel. Atlanta has arguably been the most injury-ravaged team in Major League Baseball over the last two seasons. Time and time again, key contributors have been lost for extended periods, forcing the club to rely on patchwork solutions and unproven replacements simply to stay competitive. Just when it seemed possible that the worst might be behind them, fate struck again.
MORE: St. Louis Cardinals Reportedly Interested in Free Agent Mets’ Pitcher
What makes this particular injury sting even more is the timing and context. The Braves had only recently committed $20 million to Kim for the 2026 season, bringing him in with the expectation that he would finally stabilize a position that has been a glaring weakness for years. Instead of providing immediate relief, that investment now comes with a lengthy waiting period, as Kim’s recovery will almost certainly carry well into the heart of the season.
From a baseball operations standpoint, the situation is maddening. Kim was acquired not just as a capable bat, but as a premium defensive infielder whose presence was supposed to bring consistency, confidence, and reliability to the middle of the diamond. His versatility, instincts, and experience at shortstop were meant to anchor the infield and give the pitching staff a steady defensive backbone. Now, all of that is on hold.
In fairness, the Braves did make another proactive move earlier in the offseason that now looks even more important in hindsight. Atlanta acquired Mauricio Dubón in a trade with the Houston Astros, a deal that initially seemed more like a depth-oriented transaction than a headline-grabbing splash. Dubón brings with him a strong defensive reputation, including Gold Glove-caliber skills, and the versatility to play multiple positions across the infield and outfield.
Under normal circumstances, Dubón would have been viewed as a valuable complementary piece—a player who could give the Braves flexibility, rest starters, and fill gaps when needed. Now, however, he’s suddenly staring at the possibility of playing a far more significant role than originally intended. With Kim sidelined, Dubón becomes the default option to handle shortstop duties, at least for the foreseeable future.
MORE: Diamondbacks Ace To Bolt For 2-Year, $54M Deal With Orioles
While Dubón is more than capable defensively, the situation still feels like an exhausting case of déjà vu. Braves fans have seen this movie before: a promising plan undone by injuries, followed by a scramble to hold things together until reinforcements arrive. At a certain point, it stops feeling like bad luck and starts to resemble a curse.
There’s an almost darkly humorous element to the situation as well. Social media jokes about voodoo dolls and cosmic punishment may sound exaggerated, but when you step back and look at the sheer volume of injuries this roster has absorbed, it’s hard not to sympathize with the sentiment. Over the last two seasons, it seems as though nearly every player wearing a Braves uniform has dealt with a significant injury at one point or another. Position players, pitchers, stars, role players—it hasn’t mattered. No one has been immune.
Perhaps nowhere has this instability been more pronounced than at shortstop. The position has been a revolving door ever since Dansby Swanson departed for the Chicago Cubs via free agency. Swanson’s exit left a void that the Braves have struggled to fill consistently, cycling through various internal options and short-term fixes without ever finding a true long-term answer.
Kim was supposed to be that answer. His signing represented a clear commitment from the front office to finally address the problem head-on. With his defensive acumen, offensive upside, and experience at the highest level, Kim checked all the boxes. The belief was that, at long last, the Braves could stop worrying about shortstop and focus their attention elsewhere on the roster.
MORE: Baltimore Orioles front office eyeing another significant addition of Astros’ pitcher
Instead, they find themselves right back where they started—uncertain, shorthanded, and hoping that a temporary solution can keep things afloat until help arrives. Dubón will now be asked to do more than just spell starters or move around the field; he’ll be tasked with holding down one of the most demanding positions in baseball for months on end. That’s a tall order, even for a player with his skill set.
The broader concern, of course, is what this means for the Braves’ competitive outlook. Atlanta has championship aspirations every year, and the margin for error in a loaded National League is slim. Falling behind early in the season due to injuries—especially at a premium defensive position—can have ripple effects that linger long after the injured player returns.
There’s also the psychological toll to consider. For a clubhouse that has endured so many physical setbacks, another early blow can weigh heavily on morale. Players and coaches can say all the right things about resilience and next-man-up mentality, but the reality is that constant adversity wears on even the strongest teams.
Still, if there’s one thing the Braves have demonstrated in recent years, it’s an ability to survive chaos. They’ve navigated injury-plagued seasons before and remained competitive through sheer depth, adaptability, and organizational resolve. Dubón’s presence provides at least some measure of stability, and there’s hope that Kim’s rehabilitation will go smoothly, allowing him to return closer to the shorter end of the projected timeline.
Until then, Atlanta’s plan is less about thriving and more about enduring. The Braves don’t have the luxury of a perfect solution; they’re simply trying to get through the early months without falling too far behind. Whether Dubón can truly “hold down the fort” remains to be seen, but for now, he represents the best—and only—real option.
MORE: Red Sox Officially Land $1.2 Million ‘Potential 5-Tool’ Infielder
In the end, this latest injury is a reminder that no matter how carefully a roster is constructed, baseball has a way of tearing up even the best-laid plans. For the Braves, it’s another chapter in an exhausting saga of setbacks and recoveries, frustration and perseverance. All they can do now is hope that Kim heals quickly, Dubón rises to the occasion, and that—eventually—the baseball gods decide they’ve suffered enough.
Because if there’s one thing Braves fans can agree on at this point, it’s this: whoever keeps sticking pins in that voodoo doll, it might finally be time to give it a rest.
Be the first to comment