After a hot start to his time with the Atlanta Braves, it didn't take long for Ha-Seong Kim to endear himself to Braves fans that have been longing for something to cheer for. However, whether Kim's torrid stretch continues or not, the question has now become whether or not Kim will be Atlanta's shortstop in 2026.
The answer to that question is complicated. At first, most experts thought that Kim was pretty much a lock to exercise his $16 million player option for next season. He missed the start of the 2025 season while recovering from shoulder surgery and has dealt with issues with his back, foot, calf, and hamstring this season as well.