"The Man Hitting .068 Floored the Dodgers"… Kim Ha-seong's $20 million Salary Strikes Back
With two outs in the bottom of the 9th, a single 103-mph batted ball let Atlanta beat the Dodgers 6-5. Kim Ha-seong, stuck at a .068 batting average for the season, turned things around as a pinch hitter.
Translated from Korean with AI assistance. Read the original. Sources and original publication dates are retained.
103.0 mph. That is the exit velocity of the ball off Kim Ha-seong's bat with two outs in the bottom of the 9th at Truist Park on August 26, 2026. The opponent was Dodgers closer Tanner Scott (32), and the pitch was a 97.2 mph four-seam fastball. On this one batted ball in the MLB.com record, Atlanta pulled off a 6-5 comeback win. Before that plate appearance, his season batting average was .068.
Kim Ha-seong's Stats — From .068 Over 27 Games to First Hit Since June 3
This scene was talked about again in U.S. and Korean media in September. MLB.com reported that this hit was Kim Ha-seong's first since June 3 and an escape from a 0-for-27 slump. Baseball Almanac's box score has him as a pinch hitter going 1-for-1 with 1 RBI, with Tanner Scott charged with the loss.
The timing needs to be kept separate. .068 is as of late August, while the cumulative total on MLB.com's official player page as of September 10 is 100 at-bats and 11 hits, a .110 average, and a .318 OPS. That differs from the .078 over 77 at-bats on the Baseball Almanac page dated August 27.
Kim Ha-seong's Salary Ranking — $20 million, Third on Atlanta's Roster
Kim Ha-seong agreed to a deal with Atlanta on December 15, 2025, for 1 year and $20 million. According to BetMGM Sports material citing Spotrac's tally, he is the third-highest-paid player on Atlanta for the 2026 season. Note that the confirmed contract amount comes from the club's announcement, while the team ranking comes from compiled data.
| Rank | Player | 2026 Salary | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Austin Riley | $21.2 million | Third baseman |
| 2 | Matt Olson | $21 million | First baseman |
| 3 | Ha-Seong Kim | $20 million | Shortstop |
| 4 | Chris Sale | $18 million | Starting pitcher |
| 5 | Raisel Iglesias | $16 million | Relief pitcher |
At the time of the signing, President of Baseball Operations Alex Anthopoulos said, "We think there's some more power there," pointing to the possibility of a return to a 3-4 WAR level. Compared with the $7 million annual average of his San Diego contract, which was $28 million over 4 years (2021-2024), it is about 2.9 times as much.
Kim Ha-seong's Gold Glove History and Atlanta's 4.0-Game Lead
Kim Ha-seong won the National League Utility Gold Glove in 2023 with San Diego. He was the first Korean to do so. In the KBO, he won the Golden Glove at shortstop 3 years in a row (2018-2020). Born October 17, 1995, he is 30 years old. Career totals: 469 hits, a .235 average, 52 home runs, 223 RBIs and 86 stolen bases.
According to MLB's official standings, as of September 8 Atlanta stands at 85 wins and 60 losses, first in the NL East, 4.0 games ahead of second-place Philadelphia (81 wins, 64 losses). FanGraphs put Philadelphia's division title odds at 8.2% as of September 9, and in the event of a tie, the tiebreaker goes to Atlanta, which leads the season series 7-3.
Manager Walt Weiss (62) said right after the game, "It's just great to see guys rewarded for hard work and perseverance." A .110 average, a $20 million salary. Closing that gap will determine the number on his next contract.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How much is Kim Ha-seong's salary?
It is $20 million for the 2026 season. It is a 1-year contract signed with Atlanta on December 15, 2025, and ranks third on the team according to Spotrac's tally.
Q. What is Kim Ha-seong's Gold Glove history?
In MLB, he won the National League Utility Rawlings Gold Glove in 2023 with San Diego. In the KBO, he won the Golden Glove at shortstop 3 years in a row, in 2018, 2019 and 2020.
Q. What are Kim Ha-seong's stats right now?
As of September 10, 2026, on MLB.com's official player page: 100 at-bats, 11 hits, a .110 average, 0 home runs, 6 RBIs, 2 stolen bases and a .318 OPS. For his career: 469 hits, a .235 average, 52 home runs, 223 RBIs and 86 stolen bases.
Related Official Sites
- Ha-Seong Kim MLB Official Player Stats — original source for season and career stats
- Atlanta Braves Official Standings — follow the NL East games-behind and ranking changes in real time
- Atlanta Braves Official Website — game schedule and official club announcements are posted here
- MLB Official Website — the primary source for game results and box scores for all clubs
Featured image · Photo = Pexels (Ayyeee Ayyeee)
Related Reading
· Kim Ha-seong Has a $20 million Salary and a .068 Average… He Plays for Atlanta, Not the Padres
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