When the Atlanta Braves inked infielder Ha‑Seong Kim to a one‑year, $20 million contract this winter, the move was hailed as a bold step to bolster the middle infield and add depth to a roster eyeing a playoff run.
Instead, the season has turned into a cautionary tale. In 85 plate appearances, Kim managed only five hits, leaving him with a .066 batting average, a .230 OPS and a -32 OPS+ that place him near the bottom of baseball’s historical ledger.
The slump deepened after the 27‑year‑old returned from a surgically repaired finger that had previously sidelined him, only to re‑aggravate the injury and further restrict his playing time.
The Braves’ front office responded by parting ways with Jorge Mateo, a utility infielder who had been slated to share shortstop duties, clearing the way for a younger option despite Mateo’s own struggles at the plate.
A season that will be remembered
Statistically, Kim’s 2026 campaign ranks 45,719th out of all seasons with at least 85 plate appearances in terms of batting average, slugging percentage, OPS and OPS+, cementing his place among the most dismal performances ever recorded in the sport.
Teammate metrics underscore the magnitude of the decline: Mateo’s wRC+ sits at -55 while Kim, now relegated to the bench, posts a -1.0 bWAR, a figure that signals a historically poor contribution.
The episode also highlights the unpredictable nature of baseball contracts, where a substantial financial commitment can quickly become a liability when injuries and performance collide.