Braves claim INF Ha-Seong Kim off waivers from Rays
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CHICAGO -- The Braves claimed infielder Ha-Seong Kim off waivers from the Rays on Monday.
He is expected to join the Braves at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Tuesday.
Kim, who will turn 30 next month, was in the first year of a two-year deal that includes a $16 million player option for 2026. He has played in just 24 games this year due to various injuries, including back inflammation and his recovery from right shoulder surgery.
With rosters expanding from 26 to 28 players Monday, Kim had been expected to be activated from the 10-day injured list after recovering from low-back inflammation. He owned a .611 OPS in 84 at-bats with the Rays but has not played since Aug. 19.
Kim, who has primarily played shortstop since joining MLB after seven years in the Korea Baseball Organization, won a Gold Glove Award and finished 14th in National League MVP Award voting in 2023, his best of four seasons with the Padres. Kim put up 5.4 bWAR that year, with a .260/.351/.398 slash line, 38 steals and 40 extra-base hits.
In a corresponding move, infielder Austin Riley (lower abdominal strain) was transferred from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL to make room for Kim on the 40-man roster.