Atlanta Braves add Jorge Mateo to roster after Ha-Seong Kim suffers serious finger injury

Jorge Mateo is officially headed to Atlanta. On Monday, January 19, 2026, the Atlanta Braves agreed to a one-year, $1 million contract with the free-agent infielder and outfielder, the team announced in Atlanta, Georgia. The move comes at a critical time for the Braves, just one day after the team confirmed that shortstop Ha-Seong Kim will miss several months after finger surgery.

Ha-Seong Kim suffered a torn tendon in the middle finger of his right hand and is expected to be out for four to five months. With the season approaching and a major gap in the infield, the Braves acted quickly. Signing Jorge Mateo gives Atlanta a flexible player who can cover both the infield and outfield while Kim recovers.

Jorge Mateo joins Atlanta Braves after Ha-Seong Kim ruled out for months

The Braves shared on Sunday, January 18, that Ha-Seong Kim underwent surgery to repair a torn tendon in his right middle finger. Doctors expect him to miss most of the first half of the season.

Losing their starting shortstop forced the front office to look for fast help, and Jorge Mateo became their answer. Jorge Mateo, 30, brings speed, experience, and defensive range.

Six seasons in the big leagues under his belt, he has suited up for both the San Diego Padres and the Baltimore Orioles.

Atlanta values his capacity to cover shortstop, second base, or the outfield depending on daily needs by allowing him to move throughout the field.

The Braves did not release contract bonuses, but the deal is confirmed as a one-year agreement worth $1 million. The signing allows Atlanta to stay flexible while waiting for Ha-Seong Kim’s return later in the year.



Jorge Mateo’s 2025 season with the Baltimore Orioles was limited. He appeared in 42 games and recorded 83 plate appearances. He hit .177 with one home run and three runs batted in.

His season was interrupted between June 6 and September 5 because of left elbow inflammation, which kept him off the field for nearly three months.

Even with those struggles, the Braves see value in Mateo’s speed and glove. Over his career, Jorge Mateo owns a .221 batting average with 30 home runs and 121 RBIs across stints with the San Diego Padres from 2020 to 2021 and the Baltimore Orioles afterward.

His defensive flexibility and baserunning also set him apart, characteristics Atlanta has usually prized. This is a low-risk signing with potential upside for the Braves.

Should Mateo settle into his stride, he could become a consistent fill-in as Ha-Seong Kim heals. Otherwise, the short-term agreement lets Atlanta keep investigating possibilities.

With spring training nearing, the Braves now turn their focus to reshaping the infield. Jorge Mateo arrives not as a star replacement, but as a needed piece in a moment where depth matters most.




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