Braves manager Walt Weiss spoke about Kim after the game, highlighting the tough path the 30-year-old has faced. “I’m so happy for Kim,” Weiss said. “The circumstances have been really difficult for him. This was a guy who was an elite player in this league, and he’s been trying to catch up all year.”
Kim re-signed with Atlanta on a one-year deal as a stopgap at shortstop, following a strong cameo to finish the 2025 season. His offseason, however, included an injury: a tendon tear in his middle finger suffered after slipping on ice in his homeland of South Korea. Since then, he’s been working to regain form and contributions at a high level.
The Braves have used several players at shortstop this season as the position has been a revolving door. Mauricio Dubón has seen the most action there, with Jim Jarvis and Jorge Mateo also getting starts. Kim has been in the mix as well. Outside of Dubón’s 96 wRC+ mark, the Braves have not received substantial offensive production from the position this season.
During the game, Dubón served as the primary shortstop while Mateo, who is with the Tampa Bay Rays, also filled in at times. Jarvis, a rookie known for his defense, saw action, though his bat has struggled, leading to a demotion to Triple-A Gwinnett. Weiss noted that finding Kim consistent reps has been challenging with Dubón playing well.
Kim’s season at the plate has been below expectations, batting .066 (5-for-76) with a .230 on-base-plus-slugging percentage. Yet his clutch ninth-inning hit changed the outcome and energized the team.
In the late-innings drama, Kim pinch-hit for pitcher Victor Mederos and delivered a line-drive single to left off Tanner Scott. Lane Thomas, who was on second with two outs, scored easily as the Braves captured the win in a tense, hard-fought finish.
Weiss praised Kim’s work ethic, saying, “He never pouts; he’s been working his tail off. He gets a moment like that. It’s poetic justice for that to happen.”
The victory narrows the Braves’ deficit in the race for a Wild Card by one game and places Atlanta two games behind the Dodgers, with an opportunity to shave the gap further if the series is swept. The Braves also hold the head-to-head tiebreaker after collecting four wins in the season series against Los Angeles, a potential tiebreaker advantage at season’s end.
The win also helps Atlanta maintain separation from the Philadelphia Phillies, who remain 4.5 games back in the National League East standings.
Looking back, moments like Kim’s ninth-inning heroics can have a meaningful impact over the long run. While this season hasn’t unfolded exactly as hoped for Kim, his resilience provided a timely jolt for a club pushing toward the postseason.
Key takeaways:
– Ha-Seong Kim delivered a go-ahead, walk-off single in the ninth inning to beat the Dodgers.
– Kim has faced a challenging season, including an offseason finger injury, but contributed when it mattered most.
– The Braves have shuffled several players at shortstop this year, seeking consistency.
– The win tightens the race for playoff positioning and preserves critical tiebreaker advantages.
For fans and followers, this game stood as a reminder that depth and perseverance can tilt a pennant chase, with veteran players stepping up in crucial moments to fuel a team’s late-season push.
