'Annual salary of 30.6 billion won, batting average of 0.068' Kim Ha-seong finally rests due to injury → 'Aims for a dramatic second-half comeback after rehabilitation games'

*This content was translated by AI.

After suffering from severe hitting slumps, Atlanta Braves' Kim Ha-seong (31) is heading to the injured list (IL). It was revealed that the cause of his harsh slump was a recurrence of an injury to his finger, which he had surgery on last winter. The team has launched a perfect return scenario through rehabilitation games.

The Atlanta team announced on the 5th (Korean time) via an official statement: "We have placed infielder Kim Ha-seong on the 10th-day injured list due to inflammation in his right middle finger." This measure will be applied retroactively from July 1.

Ahead of this season, Kim Ha-seong joined the ranks of high-salary players with a one-year contract worth $20 million (approximately 30.6 billion won), but he is experiencing the worst slump of his career this season. He played in 27 games during the 2026 season, achieving a disappointing batting average of 0.068 (5 hits in 73 at-bats). Recently, he endured a streak of 24 consecutive hitless at-bats, suffering the humiliation of being pushed out of the starting lineup competition. His last hit came on June 4 against the Toronto Blue Jays, and he has remained stuck at five hits since then.

However, his placement on the injured list revealed that his recent slump was not due to a simple decline in skill but rather the aftermath of pain. Kim Ha-seong had the misfortune last January of slipping on an icy road, resulting in a rupture of the tendon in his right middle finger. He eventually underwent surgery and, after a long rehabilitation period, began playing in minor league games from late April before receiving a call-up to the major leagues on May 12. However, he failed to secure many playing opportunities since then, struggling to maintain his game sharpness, and ultimately faced a halt when inflammation recurred at the surgical site.

Local media and experts are viewing this move to the injured list as a 'turning point' rather than a setback. Mark Bowman, a Braves beat reporter for MLB.com, stated, "What Kim Ha-seong needs right now is not sitting on the bench but a complete recovery of his physical condition," and analyzed that "he will likely get a chance to recover through rehabilitation games in the minor leagues."

If he successfully completes rehabilitation, it is expected to be an opportunity not only to strengthen the team's lineup but also to prove Kim Ha-seong's market value again. Locals view his inability to participate in spring training as extremely critical.

Meanwhile, Atlanta has suddenly recalled utility player Kyle Farmer, who has recovered from injury, to fill Kim Ha-seong's vacancy. Farmer, who had been sidelined due to a forearm muscle injury, will join the team immediately after completing his minor league rehabilitation process.

At the same time, to bolster the mound, right-handed pitcher JR Ritchie was called up from Triple-A to the major leagues, adding depth to the bullpen. It remains to be seen whether Kim Ha-seong, who has taken a brief break to catch his breath, can completely shake off his finger pain and write a dramatic turnaround story in the second half of the season.

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*This content was translated by AI.