Kim Ha-Seong of the Atlanta Braves has been activated from the injured list and is set to make his season debut against the Chicago Cubs. The Atlanta coaching staff, led by manager Walt Weiss, has listed Kim as the eighth batter and starting shortstop for the game at Truist Park on May 13 (local time).

Ha-Seong sustained a right middle finger tendon rupture after falling during his stay in South Korea in January while in the offseason. He underwent surgery and has been recovering ever since. He began a minor league rehabilitation stint on April 30, first playing four games at Double-A before moving to Triple-A on May 6. Over nine total minor league games, he posted a .286 batting average (8 hits in 28 at-bats), one RBI, six runs scored, six walks, four strikeouts, one stolen base, and a .733 OPS. The focus was on checking his swing mechanics and the condition of the injured area. While he alternated between designated hitter and second baseman in Double-A, he played full-time at shortstop in Triple-A.

The Braves have recently been plagued by injuries. After Ronald Acuña Jr., catcher Sean Murphy and outfielder Eli White also landed on the injured list. Utility player Mauricio Dubón, who had been filling in for Kim, has moved to the outfield, meaning Kim will be responsible for the shortstop position starting from his first game back.

sportbet log in

Manager Weiss set the lineup for the Cubs game as follows: catcher Drake Baldwin, second baseman Ozzie Albies, first baseman Matt Olson, center fielder Michael Harris II, left fielder Mauricio Dubón, third baseman Austin Riley, designated hitter Dominic Smith, shortstop Kim Ha-Seong, and right fielder Mike Yastrzemski. Kim will bat near the bottom of the order, and his ability to serve as a connection to the top of the lineup is seen as a key factor.

The Braves currently lead the National League East with a 28-13 record after 41 games, drawing attention for their explosive offense. They rank first in both leagues in team batting average (.270), home runs (57), RBIs (223), and OPS (.784). If Kim can demonstrate strong contact skills from the lower part of the order, it could further boost the team’s offensive power.