"A Complete Disaster That Wasted 26 Billion Won": Ha-seong Kim's Batting Average Falls to the .100s, U.S. Media Predicts Shock 'Minor-League Contract'

[Financial News] An unbelievable wave of criticism is being directed at a former star shortstop who once sought a mega-contract worth more than $100 million. Ha-seong Kim, 30, of the Atlanta Braves, finished the regular season with the most dismal stat line of his career since moving to the United States. Local media have even raised the possibility that he could sign a minor-league contract next season, using the word 'disaster' to describe his situation.
The Atlanta Braves, Kim's team, completed their 2026 MLB regular-season schedule with a road game against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot Park in Miami, Florida, on the 27th local time. Atlanta won the National League East with a 94-68 record and advanced to the postseason, but Kim's individual numbers remained dismal.
Kim joined Atlanta this season on a one-year, $20 million contract, approximately 26.3 billion won. He appeared in 50 regular-season games and went 15-for-127 for a .118 batting average. He did not hit a single home run and finished with nine RBIs and two stolen bases. His on-base percentage was .211 and his slugging percentage was .142, leaving him with an OPS of just .353. His WAR was also -0.9, making him a net negative for the team.

It was a season that went off track from the start. In January, Kim slipped on an icy road in South Korea and underwent surgery for a torn tendon in his right middle finger, causing him to miss spring training in its entirety. Although he returned to the major leagues in mid-May, he failed to regain his game rhythm and fell into a deep slump.
The local media's assessment has been harsh. MLB Trade Rumors (MLBTR), which specializes in the major-league transaction market, classified Kim as a potential rebound candidate in next offseason's shortstop market while offering a painful diagnosis.
The outlet bluntly said Atlanta's decision to commit $20 million to Kim "ultimately proved to be a disastrous decision." It continued, describing his situation as "the shocking downfall of a player who once appeared capable of landing a nine-figure contract ($100 million or more)," and offered a bleak forecast that Kim might have to settle for an inexpensive one-year deal or a minor-league contract rather than a guaranteed major-league contract in the upcoming winter free-agency market.

The regular season ended in disappointment, but it is not completely over. Kim still has the postseason as a final stage on which to prove his value.
Although his offense hit rock bottom, Kim made a strong impression with a walk-off hit against the Dodgers late in the season and occasionally displayed the defensive steadiness of a former Gold Glove winner. To raise his severely diminished market value even slightly, he must prove his veteran clutch ability and reliable defense on the postseason stage.
[email protected] Jeon Sang-il Reporter