Braves Sign Jorge Mateo After Ha-Seong Kim Injury

The Atlanta Braves have wasted no time addressing a sudden void at shortstop, signing utility infielder Jorge Mateo to a one-year, $1 million contract just a day after devastating news: their newly acquired starting shortstop, Ha-Seong Kim, will miss at least four months following surgery on his right middle finger. Kim’s freak injury, suffered after slipping on ice in his native South Korea, sent shockwaves through the Braves’ front office and forced an urgent search for reinforcements.

Kim, 30, had only recently joined the Braves on a one-year, $20 million deal in December after Atlanta claimed him off waivers from the Tampa Bay Rays. He was expected to anchor the infield and bring a steady bat to the lineup following a 2025 campaign split between the Braves and Rays, where he hit .234 with five home runs and 17 RBIs across 48 games. But fate had other plans. According to MLB.com, Kim underwent surgery in Atlanta to repair a torn tendon in his right middle finger and is now projected to miss a significant chunk of the 2026 season—at least four to five months, which could see him sidelined through the first half of the campaign.

With Kim out, the Braves’ infield depth was stretched thin. Mauricio Dubón, a versatile defender with 107 career games at shortstop, is expected to take over as the primary starter in Kim’s absence. While Dubón’s glove has earned accolades—he’s been credited with 13 Outs Above Average at the position—his offensive production has been modest, with a career .257/.295/.374 batting line and an 85 wRC+, slightly better than Mateo but still below league average. The Braves’ bench options were limited, with prospects Nacho Alvarez Jr. and Aaron Schunk lacking both experience and offensive punch at the big-league level. The urgency to shore up the roster was clear.

Enter Jorge Mateo. The 30-year-old Dominican is no stranger to adversity or the shifting sands of Major League Baseball. Mateo spent the past four-plus seasons with the Baltimore Orioles after debuting with the San Diego Padres in 2020, but his career has been marked by both flashes of brilliance and frustrating inconsistency. The Orioles declined his $5.5 million club option for 2026 in November, making him a free agent. Mateo’s 2025 season was a struggle: he batted just .177 with one home run, three RBIs, and 15 stolen bases over 42 games. His .483 OPS and .202 expected weighted on-base average (xwOBA) in 83 plate appearances underscored his offensive woes, though he was returning from Tommy John surgery and a series of injuries that limited his playing time.

In fact, injuries have become a recurring theme for Mateo. In July 2024, while playing second base for Baltimore, he collided with Gunnar Henderson on a ground ball, resulting in a subluxation of his left elbow and season-ending surgery. The following year, elbow inflammation and a hamstring strain further hampered his availability, restricting him to just 111 games over two seasons. Despite these setbacks, Mateo’s speed and defensive versatility have kept him in demand. He’s played 2,320 1/3 innings at shortstop—more than three times that of Dubón—and also has experience at second base, third base, and all three outfield positions.

Mateo’s career numbers paint a picture of a player whose value lies more in his legs and glove than his bat. He owns a .221/.266/.363 career slash line with 30 home runs, 121 RBIs, and 106 stolen bases in 487 games. His wRC+ sits at 75, indicating he’s been 25% below league average as a hitter. Yet, when healthy, Mateo’s speed is a game-changer. He led the American League with 35 stolen bases in 2022 and has been successful on 84.1% of his attempts (95-for-113) since then. Even in injury-shortened campaigns, he managed to swipe 28 bases over the past two years. Braves manager Walt Weiss now has a legitimate speed threat off the bench, joining backup outfielder Eli White as another weapon for late-inning situations.

Defensively, Mateo’s track record is a mixed bag. In 2022, he posted an impressive 2.8 fWAR season fueled by elite defense at shortstop, but he’s struggled to replicate that level of play in subsequent years. Advanced metrics like Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) and Outs Above Average (OAA) offer differing perspectives—Mateo has been credited with 13 DRS and six OAA at shortstop, while Dubón’s defensive numbers are slightly more favorable according to OAA. Regardless, Mateo’s experience and flexibility provide the Braves with crucial insurance as they navigate the early part of the season without Kim.

So, what can Braves fans expect from this new infield arrangement? Mauricio Dubón is likely to handle the majority of starts at shortstop, but Mateo’s presence allows for creative late-game maneuvers. If, for example, left fielder Mike Yastrzemski is pinch-hit for against a tough lefty reliever, Dubón could slide to the outfield and Mateo could slot in at shortstop, maximizing both defensive coverage and offensive matchups. The Braves can also use spring training to evaluate whether a platoon or utility role makes sense for either Mateo or Dubón, given their right-handed bats and similar splits against lefties.

Atlanta’s decision to add Mateo is a pragmatic one, reflecting both the realities of the late free-agent market and the team’s championship aspirations. With top shortstop options like Bo Bichette already signed elsewhere, the Braves opted for a low-risk, high-upside move. Mateo’s $1 million salary is just above the league minimum, a small price for a potential difference-maker on the basepaths and in the field. “He isn’t a guarantee to help, as he is coming off a couple of injury-marred seasons, but there also wasn’t much else out there on the market,” noted a report from BeisbolFR. The Braves are clearly hoping that, if healthy, Mateo can recapture some of his 2022 defensive magic and provide a spark until Kim returns.

For now, the Braves’ infield picture is one of adaptation and resilience. The loss of Ha-Seong Kim is a significant blow, but the front office acted swiftly to patch the hole. Mateo’s signing doesn’t solve every problem, but it gives Atlanta a fighting chance to stay afloat in the fiercely competitive National League East. As spring training approaches, all eyes will be on how Dubón and Mateo handle their increased responsibilities—and whether the Braves’ gamble pays off.

With Kim’s recovery timeline uncertain and the grind of a long season ahead, Atlanta’s flexibility and depth will be tested early. But if there’s one thing the Braves have shown, it’s that they’re not afraid to make bold moves when the stakes are high.