The San Diego Padres are bracing for a significant period without their star infielder, Xander Bogaerts, who has been diagnosed with a fractured bone in his left shoulder. The news comes after a series of tests, including a pending CT scan that will provide further clarity on the duration of Bogaerts’ absence.
“Unfortunately, the news isn’t as good as we had hoped,” Padres manager Mike Shildt said before the team’s 7-3 victory over the Reds. “He’ll be on the IL and will be on the sidelines for a period of time. It’s impossible to say how long; we’re still gathering information.”
Bogaerts sustained the injury during the first game of Monday’s doubleheader in Atlanta, while diving to stop a grounder from Ronald Acuña Jr. “I remember as soon as I caught the ball, I heard four cracks,” Bogaerts recalled. “I knew something was wrong.”
At the time of his injury, the four-time All-Star and five-time Silver Slugger was hitting .219 with four homers and 14 RBIs.
Shildt now faces the challenge of filling the void left by Bogaerts. Left-handed hitter Tyler Wade, who started at shortstop against Reds right-hander Nick Martinez on Wednesday, is one option. Other possibilities include Luis Arraez and Donovan Solano.
“We’re still in the process of figuring that out,” Shildt said. “We have a lot of options between three or four different guys. We’ll be somewhat creative with that, relative to what we’re seeing, and the pitching. But we’ll also create some stability that we think people will like.”
In a roster move, the Padres selected the contract of outfielder David Peralta and transferred right-hander Luis Patiño to the 60-day IL. Peralta, a 36-year-old veteran of 10 Major League seasons, underwent flexor tendon surgery last October. He signed with the Padres on May 18 after being released by the Cubs and was assigned to Triple-A El Paso. Peralta started in left field on Wednesday in Cincinnati.
“I’m excited to be here, for the opportunity,” Peralta said. “When they called me to the office last night, I felt like it was my first time getting called to the big leagues. I really appreciate it and I’m thankful San Diego said, ‘We need your help here.’ I’m here to help the team win.”
As the Padres navigate this challenging period, the team will look to their depth and versatility to maintain their competitive edge.
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