Kim Ha-seong of the Atlanta Braves is finally returning to the Major League Baseball stage.
Kim was listed in the starting lineup as the No. 8 hitter and shortstop for the 2026 MLB home game against the Chicago Cubs at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia, on Friday (Korea time).
Kim, who signed a one-year, $20 million contract with Atlanta, his former team, last December, suffered an unexpected injury in January after slipping on an icy road. The accident ruptured a tendon in the middle finger of his right hand, and he underwent surgery and focused on rehabilitation for some time.
Kim began building up game experience by playing in minor league games starting April 30. He raised his batting form over nine combined games at Double-A and Triple-A, posting a .286 batting average (8-for-28) with one RBI, six runs scored, and an OPS of .733. The Atlanta club announced the previous day that Kim had been moved from the injured list to the 26-man big league roster, and placed him directly in the starting lineup that day.
Atlanta's lineup features Drake Baldwin (catcher), Ozzie Albies (second baseman), Matt Olson (first baseman), Michael Harris II (center fielder), Mauricio Dubon (left fielder), Austin Riley (third baseman), Dominic Smith (designated hitter), Kim Ha-seong (shortstop), and Mike Yastrzemski (right fielder). The starting pitcher is Grant Holmes. The Cubs pitcher Kim will face is Rea, who has a 4-1 record with a 4.03 ERA this season.
Meanwhile, Atlanta currently leads the National League East at 28-13, while the Cubs sit atop the NL Central at 27-14.
