The Atlanta Braves have just signed Ha-Seong Kim and immediately announced a bobblehead giveaway for the regular season.

The Atlanta Braves announced yesterday that they re-signed Korean shortstop Ha-Seong Kim, and today they promptly declared that the July 22nd home game against the San Diego Padres next year (Beijing time) will be called "Ha-Seong Kim Bobblehead Night," with the first 15,000 attendees receiving his bobblehead as a giveaway.

The Braves signed Kim to a one-year deal yesterday, reportedly with a $20 million salary. Just turned 30, he signed a four-year, $28 million contract with the Padres before the 2021 season, leaving the Korean baseball league to challenge MLB. After the 2024 season, he declined his player option and then signed a two-year, $29 million deal with the Tampa Bay Rays. After being released by the Rays mid-season this year, he was picked up by the Braves. Following the season, he opted out again and ultimately chose to return to the Braves.

Next season, the Braves and Padres will face each other in seven games, with one series at each team's home field. After a three-game road series from June 23rd to 25th, the teams will play a four-game home series for the Braves from July 21st to 24th. The game originally scheduled for July 22nd (Tuesday local time) already had a promotional event offering Spider-Man bobbleheads with certain ticket purchases. On the day after signing Ha-Seong Kim, the Braves added that the first 15,000 fans attending that game will also receive a Ha-Seong Kim bobblehead.

During Kim’s four years with the Padres, he accumulated a slash line of .242/.326/.380 (batting average/on-base percentage/slugging percentage) over 1,976 plate appearances, with a weighted runs created plus (wRC+) of 101. This year, in 93 plate appearances with the Rays, his wRC+ was 73, and after moving to the Braves for 98 plate appearances, his wRC+ improved to 91. The Steamer projection system forecasts his stats next year to be .245/.332/.377 with a wRC+ of 100.