Kim Ha-sung's injury also shocked the U.S. "Horrible news → harsh and unfortunate bad luck."

*This content was translated by AI.

Kim Ha-sung (31, Atlanta Braves), who signed a single-year contract for the 2026 season and virtually chose to re-enter the FA (Free Agent), has been hampered by the evil spirit of injury again. This time, I was very unlucky to fall on the icy road. Even in the United States, people are shocked by the news.

The Atlanta club said on the club's official channel on the morning of the 19th (Korea Standard Time), "Kim Ha-sung was injured while staying in Korea and was diagnosed with a ruptured tendon in the middle of his right hand." Dr. Gary Lurie underwent surgery in Atlanta. The recovery period is expected to be four to five months," the release said.

The circumstances of the injury are also very unfortunate. Multiple media outlets, including Major League Baseball's official website MLB.com , left an additional explanation, saying, "Kim Ha-sung was staying in his home country of Korea, but he slipped on the icy road."

In response to the news, Sean Spradling, a freelance journalist who mainly covers WBC (World Baseball Classic), said on his SNS, "Kim Ha-sung will not be able to participate in WBC." It's simply terrible news," he wrote. Another media outlet, the Sporting News of the United States, also reported Kim Ha-sung's news, saying, "It's very sad to know how you got hurt. Atlanta's plans for the 2026 season have also been disrupted. It's a very harsh misfortune for both players and the club. "Kim Ha-sung's potential at the end of the 2025 season fully showed why Atlanta signed an additional one-year contract," he lamented. The Athletic, a U.S. sports media outlet, also said, "Healthy Kim Ha-sung is one of the best defensive shortstop in the Major League. He even won the Gold Glove Award. However, with this injury, the Braves will be hit hard."

U.S. local media believe that Kim Ha-sung's return is around the All-Star break. Until now, the vacancy of Kim Ha-sung is likely to be filled by Mauricio Duvon (32), who was acquired from the Houston Astros in a trade in November last year. Although it is a utility resource that can defend shortstop, he is considered to be somewhat lacking in hitting than Kim Ha-sung.

The reason why this injury comes particularly cruel to Kim Ha-sung is because of "timing." Kim Ha-sung, who was evaluated by the market in the aftermath of shoulder surgery after the end of the 2024 season, signed a short-term contract of $20 million (about 29.4 billion won) with Atlanta to prove his value again and chose the so-called "FA re-entry," but the opportunity to spend the full-time season disappeared again.

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*This content was translated by AI.