After months of questions, slumps, and swirling doubts, the Atlanta Braves’ middle infield may finally be settling into the force Atlanta fans have been desperate to see. Ozzie Albies and Ha-Seong Kim aren’t just holding it down — they might be the spark the team builds around in 2026.
Albies’ first half of the 2025 season was rough. Brutal, even. A .220 batting average and whispers about whether the Braves would even pick up his $7 million option for 2026? That’s not the stuff of All-Stars.
But since the All-Star break, Albies has been on a tear — and the numbers don’t lie. He’s racked up 39 RBIs in just 54 games, nearly doubling his first-half production. On Sunday, as the Braves rolled past the Astros 8-3, Albies lit it up again, going 2-for-5 with three RBIs and once again reminding fans and front offices alike that he’s still that guy.
Manager Brian Snitker certainly hasn’t wavered in his belief. “He’s not going to panic,” Snitker said. “He has unbelievable confidence in his abilities… You don’t know if he’s hitting .300 or .200 when he walks through the door.”
Ha-Seong Kim Looking Great For the Braves
Ha-Seong Kim, claimed off waivers from the Rays just two weeks ago, is wasting no time making an impression. On Sunday, he went 3-for-4 with an RBI, and his recent game-winning homer in Chicago wasn’t just a jolt of excitement — it was the first long ball by a Braves shortstop in nearly a year.
Injuries have derailed Kim’s season, but now, with just 35 games under his belt in 2025, he’s flashing the defensive excellence that earned him a Gold Glove in 2023 — and some timely hits to go with it. He’s already said he’s starting to get his feel back. That’s huge for a team trying to rebuild confidence in its infield.
Snitker likes what he sees. “He’s been showing me something ever since he’s been here,” he said. “His focus, what he brings, he’s very impressive.”
Kim, who holds a $16 million player option for 2026, could stick around if the fit is right — and so far, he’s fitting in just fine. Albies has the locker next to him and already sounds like a fan.
“He’s a great player,” Albies said. “He always plays hard and tries to do anything in his power to help the team.”
For a Braves team that had its season go sideways, the spotlight is shifting. 2025 may be wrapping up with a whimper, but 2026? If Albies keeps raking and Kim keeps clicking, the Braves might just have their double-play duo of the future already locked in.
