The reason behind Atlanta's refusal to give up on Kim Ha-seong revealed! "Despite a massive $28.2 million salary, the team trusts his past performance; his defense continues to receive high praise."

*This content was translated by AI.

The specific internal decision-making process behind Atlanta's choice to keep Kim Ha-seong (31) despite his worst slump in recent years has been clarified.

According to a report by U.S. sports outlet The Athletic on the 8th (Korean time), an anonymous source familiar with the club's internal affairs disclosed the primary reasons why Atlanta's leadership decided against parting ways with Kim Ha-seong.

Kim Ha-seong is enduring his worst Major League Baseball season to date, struggling through a severe hitting slump this year with a batting average of just 0.067 (5 hits in 75 at-bats), including the game against the New York Yankees on the 8th. Nevertheless, it is understood that Atlanta's front office has not even considered trading or releasing him.

The most significant practical barrier identified by the source was his contract terms. Kim Ha-seong's current season salary of $20 million (approximately 28.2 billion won) poses a substantial financial burden for any other team to absorb in case of a trade or release.

However, beyond salary concerns, Atlanta's unwavering trust in the player was also cited as a decisive factor. It is reported that Atlanta's leadership continues to deeply value Kim Ha-seong's career achievements in the majors and highly appreciates his exceptional defensive versatility across all infield positions.

Earlier, Mark Bowman, an Atlanta Braves beat reporter for MLB.com, shared on his social media platform about the candid atmosphere surrounding roster adjustments at the club.

Citing voices from within the clubhouse, Bowman stated, "If you have the courage to make a firm and cold decision, you should keep Jorge Mateo on the roster and designate Kim Ha-seong for assignment (DFA)." He added, "This is what many people inside the clubhouse want." The revelation caused shock. Yet he also remarked, "But I don't think this decision will be made." In the end, that's exactly what happened.

In reality, Atlanta chose to remove other position players from the roster rather than immediately reinstating Kim Ha-seong after he completed his rehabilitation following injury placement. To make room for newly acquired player Ryan Thomas and accommodate returning players Kim Ha-seong and catcher Sean Murphy, the club designated Jorge Mateo for assignment (DFA) and traded Eli White to the Boston Red Sox.

By sending both fast-footed Mateo and White out of the 26th-man roster, Atlanta sacrificed some of its base-running flexibility that could have been valuable during the postseason.

However, Atlanta remains confident, recalling its successful strategy in the 2021 World Series championship when it bolstered its speed by adding Terrance Gore in the latter half of the season. With the roster expanding to 28 players in September, the club can draw on a deep pool of base-running options from the minor leagues, including Dashon Keyser Jr., Brewer Hicklen, and Luke Williams, whenever needed.

Ultimately, despite his poor hitting performance, Atlanta has clearly signaled its intention to continue relying on Kim Ha-seong as a core team member, emphasizing both his potential for rebound and his reliable defensive value.

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*This content was translated by AI.