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Kim Ha-seong, 31, of the Atlanta Braves, rebounded by recording his first multi-hit game of the season. After notching his first three-hit performance of the campaign, Kim saw his batting average finally climb above the .100 mark. / AP, Yonhap

Kim Ha-seong of the Atlanta Braves has signaled a late-season resurgence. After seeing his batting average dip below the .100 mark due to the aftermath of injuries and severe batting slumps, Kim demonstrated clear potential for a rebound by racking up three hits in a single game for the first time in a year. While his overall season numbers remain modest, sustained form over the remainder of the campaign could rebuild his market value in free agency (FA).

Kim started as the ninth-place hitter and shortstop in an away matchup against the Washington Nationals in the 2026 Major League Baseball (MLB) season held at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., on the 1st local time, going 3-for-3 at the plate. A three-hit performance came 353 days after his last against the Houston Astros on September 15 of last year.

Above all, the quality of his contact stood out. In his first at-bat in the third inning, Kim ripped a 170 km/h single into left field, followed by a 167 km/h batted ball in the fifth. In his final plate appearance in the eighth inning, he produced another sharp single to left field off a ball struck at 175 km/h. All three hits were barreled cleanly on the sweet spot, setting this performance apart from fortunate multi-hit games driven merely by luck.

He also made his presence felt on defense. In the second inning, shaded toward second base, he laid out to snare a hard grounder bounding toward center field and delivered an accurate throw from a seated position. It served as a clear sign that Kim is gradually regaining his game rhythm across both offense and defense.

This season was critical for Kim. Electing to opt out after the 2025 season to sign a one-year, $20 million deal with Atlanta was a calculated move aimed at re-entering the FA market a year later to secure a long-term pact. In reality, following shoulder surgery in 2024, overlapping injuries and slumps had prevented him from securing the lucrative long-term contract he had anticipated.

The issue was that the 2026 campaign was compromised from the outset. A tendon injury to his right middle finger sidelined him entirely through the early stages of the season, and even after returning, he struggled to overcome prolonged inactivity, extending his slump. With playing time declining, local speculation had even surfaced regarding Atlanta potentially using Kim as trade bait.

Under these circumstances, a late-season rebound could substantially impact his market valuation as a free agent. Naturally, based strictly on his current numbers, securing a long-term deal exceeding an average annual value of $20 million as in the past will not be easy. Given that he spent the majority of the season dealing with injuries and slumps, clubs will inevitably scrutinize his health status and hitting recovery with care.

Should he solidify dependable defense at shortstop while playing as a regular starter through the finish line, proving his competitiveness on both sides of the ball, the consensus around him could shift.

Kim's greatest asset remains his shortstop defense and versatility to handle multiple infield positions. If his bat returns to form on top of that, he can reframe his narrative in the FA market from "a player whose season was derailed by injury" to "a healthy, elite defensive infielder."

                                                                                                       Cheon Hyun-bin