Kim Ha-seong Ranked Lowest Tier Among Free Agents
MLB.com placed the former Braves infielder in grade 5, the bottom tier, among 181 free agents.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Baseball
MLB.com ranked Kim Ha-seong in grade 5, the lowest of five tiers, among 181 free agents. The Atlanta Braves are unlikely to pursue a new contract with the infielder.
Why it matters
Kim batted .116 with 9 RBIs in 51 games in 2026 and has battled shoulder surgery and a ruptured finger tendon, factors behind his low ranking. Finding a team willing to sign him appears challenging.
Kim batted .116 with 9 RBIs across 51 regular-season games in 2026, after hitting .253 with three home runs for Atlanta in 2025. Whether another club will offer him a contract remains unresolved.
The players
Kim Ha-seong
Kim is a Korean infielder who won the National League Gold Glove in the utility category in 2023 and played for the San Diego Padres and Atlanta Braves.
MLB.com
MLB.com is the official website of Major League Baseball, which publishes news, statistics, and analysis on the league.
The details
MLB.com released its free agent grades on November 7, 2026, placing Kim Ha-seong in the bottom tier and listing him alongside 181 players sorted into five grades. Kim underwent right shoulder surgery in September 2024 and ruptured a tendon in his right middle finger after slipping on an icy road in January 2026.
Timeline
September 2024: Kim underwent right shoulder surgery.
2025 season: Kim was traded from the San Diego Padres to the Atlanta Braves.
January 2026: Kim ruptured a tendon in his right middle finger on an icy road.
November 7, 2026: MLB.com released its free agent grades.
Season Trajectory
Kim's 2023 National League Gold Glove as a utility infielder marks a sharp contrast with his 2026 season, when injuries and a .116 batting average pushed him to the bottom free agent tier. The decline now shapes how teams evaluate his market value heading into the offseason.
For fantasy and roster planners, Kim's grade 5 placement signals that his market may be limited and that teams could look elsewhere for infield depth. His injury history also raises questions about how much playing time he could realistically command next season.
The takeaway
Free agent rankings can shift quickly as injuries and performance change, so readers tracking a player's future should watch for signed contracts and team announcements rather than grades alone.
Further reading
Explore more Baseball coverage for context on free agency and player performance across the league.
