The Atlanta Braves reinstated shortstop Ha-Seong Kim from the injured list Monday and designated Jorge Mateo for assignment, but don’t expect Kim to immediately reclaim the starting job.
General manager Alex Anthopoulos made it clear that Nacho Alvarez Jr. will continue starting at shortstop, with Kim returning in a reserve role for now.
“Anthopoulos said Jarvis will remain the starting shortstop. Dubon will be used at a variety of positions while remaining an everyday player,” Braves insider Mark Bowman posted.
It’s a move that might not sit well with everyone in the clubhouse.
“I think it would be wrong… If Jarvis keeps playing like this he needs to be in there, if they want him to sit against lefties and put Dubon on short that is fine. Bringing Kim back to this club, I don’t think there will be a lot of happy guys in that clubhouse. Jarvis has earned the playing time.”
That was Bowman’s take on the situation, and it highlights just how much the dynamics have shifted since Kim went down with his injury.
The Braves have been searching for stability at shortstop ever since Dansby Swanson left for the Chicago Cubs. Kim was supposed to be the answer when they acquired him, but injuries derailed those plans early in the season.
While Kim was working his way back through a rehab assignment, Alvarez stepped up and gave the Braves exactly what they needed. Now they’re in the position of having to manage expectations and playing time with a player who was penciled in as their starter.
“Alex Anthopoulos says that SS Ha-Seong Kim is back. Jorge Mateo has been DFA’d. Alex says that the plan has always been to bring Kim back after his rehab stint,” 680 The Fan’s Barrett Sallee reported.
The decision to DFA Mateo might sting a bit. He’d become a well-liked presence in the clubhouse and brought valuable speed and defensive versatility when called upon. As backup options go, there’s a case that Mateo offered more immediate value than Kim in his current state.
But the Braves are clearly betting on Kim finding his form. They invested in him for a reason, and with their championship window still open after winning it all in 2021, they need to maximize every asset.
The question now becomes whether Kim can work his way back into the everyday conversation. Alvarez has earned his opportunity through performance, and the clubhouse dynamics Bowman mentioned suggest teammates have taken notice.
For a team with World Series aspirations, having depth at shortstop isn’t the worst problem to have. How they manage it could determine whether this move pays off or becomes a source of unnecessary friction.
