*This content was translated by AI.
Atlanta Braves' Kim Ha-seong (31) sat on the bench again. Despite his team's victory, he did not play at all.
On the 13th (Korea time), Atlanta defeated the New York Mets 6-3 in a home game at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia. However, Kim Ha-seong, who was out the previous day, did not step onto the field until the end of the game and had to watch his team's victory from the dugout.
Kim Ha-seong, who was called up to the major leagues after completing rehabilitation in the minor leagues on the 4th, has not appeared since making a start against the New York Yankees on the 8th. His last appearance was as a pinch runner in the game against the Yankees on the 10th.
Criticism of Kim Ha-seong is rising in the United States. Considering Atlanta's situation as a team aiming for the championship, there are many voices criticizing him for earning an annual salary of $20 million (approximately 28.3 billion won) without contributing to the team.
Mark Bowman, the Atlanta beat reporter for MLB.com, the official major league website, conveyed the atmosphere at the scene on the 2nd via his social media: "If you have the guts to make a cold decision, you should keep infielder Jorge Mateo and put Kim Ha-seong on waivers. That is what most people inside the clubhouse currently want." He added, "However, I do not think this decision will be made." Eventually, Mateo was placed on designated for assignment (DFA), and news broke that he signed a major league contract with the Tampa Bay Rays on the 13th.
Although the team secured a welcome victory to extend their winning streak to two games, Kim Ha-seong's position remains unstable. In January, while training alone in Korea, Kim fell on an icy road, rupturing the ligament in his right middle finger and undergoing surgery. After a difficult rehabilitation process, he returned to the big leagues via Triple-A Gwinnett in early May, but has fallen into a severe batting slump with a .068 batting average (5 hits in 73 at-bats) over 27 games since his return.
To make matters worse, inflammation recurred at the site of his operated finger, forcing him to undergo rehabilitation games in the minor leagues until the 2nd. Despite being activated from the injured list (IL) and returning to the 26th-man roster, he has managed only two plate appearances in just two games since his return, maintaining a .067 batting average. It remains to be seen whether he, who has been pushed out of the starting lineup competition, can find an opportunity for a turnaround.
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*This content was translated by AI.
