Mateo hit the free-agent market after hitting .177 with one homer and a .483 OPS in 43 video games for the Orioles final yr. The 30-year-old infielder has a .629 OPS over the 1,411 plate appearances he has collected courting again to his 2020 debut season with the Padres. He may play each outfield place and he has frolicked at second base, however he has been used primarily as a shortstop.
The expectation is that Mauricio Dubón would be the Braves major shortstop in Kim’s absence, and Mateo will function his backup.
Braves supervisor Walt Weiss could have a number of pace choices on his bench with projected backup outfielder Eli White and Mateo, who has been profitable on 84.1 (95-for-113) p.c of his stolen base makes an attempt going again to 2022, when he tallied 35 steals for Baltimore.
Kim, who signed a one-year $20 million deal in December, slipped on ice in his native South Korea final week and underwent surgical procedure to restore a torn tendon in his proper center finger on Sunday. The 30-year-old veteran will want 4 to 5 months of restoration. So, even with a best-case state of affairs, he’ll miss the common season’s first six weeks.
The Braves have been relying on Dubón’s super defensive versatility. Mateo’s presence will enable Dubón to make late-inning strikes to different positions if vital.
As an example, if left fielder Mike Yastrzemski is pinch-hit for towards a left-handed reliever, Dubón may shift to left subject and Mateo may fill the shortstop position.
