Ha-Seong Kim returns to the postseason stage on June 30 as the Atlanta Braves open their Wild Card Series against the Philadelphia Phillies at True East Park, marking his first appearance in autumn baseball in four years.
From Injury Struggles to Postseason Roster
The path to the postseason roster represents a dramatic turnaround for the veteran infielder. Kim began the season on the injured list recovering from a finger injury and struggled significantly upon his return, which left him on the fringe of the team’s plans. The turning point arrived on August 27 during a home game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, where Kim delivered a walk-off hit as a substitute. Over his next 20 games, he batted .189 with a .540 OPS, showing marked improvement over his initial 31 contests where he batted .066 with a .230 OPS.
Game One Lineup and Series Roster Construction
For the opening game of the best-of-three series, manager Walt Weiss named Kim to the starting lineup as the ninth-batter and shortstop. The Braves built their series roster with 15 position players and 11 pitchers, a configuration designed for a short postseason matchup. Weiss noted that the compact nature of a three-game series reduces the need for a deep bullpen of long relievers, allowing the team to lean heavily on top relievers while maintaining options for multi-inning coverage.
Atlanta’s Series Roster and Opening Lineup
The Braves open the series with a batting order featuring Drake Baldwin at catcher, Ronald Acuña Jr. in right field, Matt Olson at first baseman, Mauricio Dubón in left field, Michael Harris II in center field, Ozzie Albies at second base, Austin Riley at third base, Mike Yastrzemski as the designated hitter, and Ha-Seong Kim at shortstop. Chris Sale takes the ball as the starting pitcher for Game 1.
Atlanta’s full pitching staff for the series includes Dylan Dodd, Didier Fuentes, Grant Holmes, Raisel Iglesias, A.J. Minter, Dylan Lee, Tyler Mahle, Víctor Mederos, Chris Sale, Robert Suárez, and Brent Suter.
The Addition of Rowdy Tellez
Veteran left-handed hitter Rowdy Tellez joins the Braves for the postseason push after spending time in the minor leagues. Weiss highlighted the value Tellez brings to the bench, pointing to his power potential from the left side and his ability to serve as a high-impact pinch hitter during the series.
