Braves’ Injury Woes Continue as Ha-Seong Kim Set to Miss Start of 2026 Season
If you’re a Braves fan, this script is starting to feel all too familiar. After two years of battling a relentless string of injuries, Atlanta was hoping to finally enter a season with a clean bill of health.
But that optimism took a hit this week with the news that newly acquired infielder Ha-Seong Kim will miss the start of the 2026 season following finger surgery. The timeline?
He’s expected to be out until at least May-possibly longer.
It’s a tough break for a team that had been counting on Kim to solidify its infield depth and bring a spark to the bottom of the lineup. But the Braves aren’t in full panic mode just yet, and that’s thanks in large part to a move they made earlier this offseason-trading for Mauricio Dubon. That deal is looking a lot more important now.
Dubon Steps In at Shortstop
With Kim sidelined, Dubon is the next man up at shortstop, and all signs point to him getting the bulk of the reps there to open the season. He’s not the same offensive presence as Kim, but he’s a competent contact hitter who can handle the position defensively. He doesn’t need to be a star-just steady enough to hold down the fort until Kim is ready to return.
The Braves could also explore internal options for infield depth, and it wouldn’t be surprising if they added a utility piece before camp opens, just to give themselves a little more flexibility. But at this point, it looks like Dubon is the guy.
Projecting the Opening Day Lineup
So, what does the Braves’ lineup look like without Kim? It’s not a complete overhaul, but the bottom third does lose some punch. Here’s a first look at how things could shake out on Opening Day:
- RF Ronald Acuña Jr.
- 1B Matt Olson
- 3B Austin Riley
- C Drake Baldwin
- DH Jurickson Profar
- 2B Ozzie Albies
- CF Michael Harris II
- LF Mike Yastrzemski
- SS Mauricio Dubon
A few things stand out. First, this is still a lineup with plenty of firepower up top.
Acuña, Olson, and Riley form a potent trio, and Baldwin’s emergence behind the plate adds intrigue. Profar brings a veteran presence at DH, and Albies-if healthy-can be a spark plug in the middle.
But once you get past Harris, the lineup thins out. Yastrzemski and Dubon are capable contributors, but they’re not going to strike fear into opposing pitchers.
Kim was expected to slot in near the bottom of the order-likely eighth or ninth-so this isn’t a drastic reshuffling. Still, it’s a downgrade, especially given Kim’s ability to grind out at-bats and make pitchers work.
Can the Braves Weather the Storm?
The good news is that this isn’t a season-ending injury. Kim is expected back by midseason, and if Dubon can hold his own until then, the Braves should be able to stay afloat. This lineup-while not quite at full strength-still has enough talent to do damage, especially if the big bats stay healthy.
The front office probably won’t rush to make another splash at shortstop with Kim’s return on the horizon. A smaller move for a depth piece?
Sure. But unless something changes, it’s shaping up to be Dubon’s job to start the year.
Injuries are never ideal, but this one-while frustrating-isn’t catastrophic. The Braves have been here before. Now it’s about weathering the early storm and staying in the hunt until reinforcements arrive.