The Atlanta Braves will soon get shortstop Ha-Seong Kim back into the starting lineup with the expectation that the infielder will make a mid-May return. While Kim's starting spot appears to be in question, due to incredible production from Mauricio Dubon, it isn't Kim whose spot should be in danger. Dubon has unquestionably made his case as a starting option, hitting .299 and driving in 14 runners so far this season.
Kim's return shouldn't be a problem for Atlanta, but it offers an opportunity to correct an obvious weakness in left field. Part of what makes Dubon so valued is the fact that the utility player can be plugged into so many different positions. If Kim offers any level of consistency at the plate, the Braves should push Dubon into left field and take care of what has been a bit of a liability.
Both Eli White and Mike Yastrzemski are hitting around the Mendoza line and haven't offered the offensive production the Braves were hoping for. Obviously, this goes back to Jurickson Profar's decision to ignore the league's banned substance list, earning yet another suspension.
This has left the Braves dealing with underwhelming production in the third outfield spot, an issue that Kim's return can solve. Dubon not only offers speed in the outfield but has been a great source of offense, opening the door for the Braves to keep both players in the starting lineup and demote one of the team's current bench options.
Ha-Seong Kim's Braves Return Offers Clear Left Field Solution for Atlanta
While a lot can change between now and Kim's expected return date, the current options for demotion would appear to be Kyle Farmer or Eli White. Farmer would make the most sense as the infielder has only earned six at-bats this season and doesn't offer the defensive or base-running upside of White.
Regardless of the decision, it is clear that Atlanta has an exciting solution to what was a surprising problem. Neither option in left field has offered anywhere close to the expected offensive performance. This has been overlooked due to Atlanta's hot start and players like Dominic Smith and Dubon stepping in to provide surprise production.
For Dubon, it has been clear from his level of play that he understands the clear opportunity in front of him. Atlanta needs to keep rolling with their current success stories. This means putting Kim in at short and leaving Dubon in the lineup. The same could be said of Sean Murphy, who is closer to a return and is likely going to replace Jonah Heim. It will be interesting to see how Atlanta navigates these returning pieces with no shortage of lineup options when healthy.
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