Ha-Seong Kim suffered a shoulder injury on Sunday after making an awkward dive back to first base. A big question mark surrounded his name for some days as tests were run and utility infielder, Matthew Batten, was recalled from Triple-A El Paso as Kim’s replacement. Then on Tuesday, he was put on the 10-day injured list for right shoulder inflammation. With Kim on the IL, it is a perfect opportunity to change the depleted San Diego Padres infield. The Padres are hopeful Kim’s stint on the IL won’t last beyond 10 days.
Are Changes Coming to the Padres Infield?
San Diego is in a critical period of the postseason race and Wild Card contention. Manager Mike Shildt discussed the potential to bring Kim back before the 10 days but ultimately decided not to rush his comeback. Kim agreed with the choice and hopes to return at his best to help the Padres in their efforts to make it to the World Series.
Kim has struggled with his bat and his defense which has caused some concern for the Padres of late. This season, he has made 11 errors in his starring role at shortstop. While at bat, he has struggled to turn himself into a reliable hitter with a .233 batting average this year. Perhaps time on the IL is an opportunity to reset, refocus, and realign before rejoining the Padres for the final stretch of the season.
Moving Out or Moving On
Surprisingly, Tyler Wade took over for Kim at shortstop and was back again in the starting lineup on Tuesday. Wade has shown his value as a player on the Padres bench, taking over at almost any infield position and acting as a pinch-runner in key moments. Yet, he has a slim .554 OPS which is a major decline from Kim’s offensive production. Defensively, Kim leaves a major gap in the Padres infield that desperately needs to be filled.
The Padres infield has struggled consistently with injuries, shifts, and letdowns. Kim was moved over to shortstop at the beginning of the season as Xander Bogaerts went to second base. Luis Arráez has enjoyed stints at first base moving Jake Cronenworth to second while Bogaerts acted as designated hitter. Donovan Solano took over for Manny Machado at third while Machado worked through an elbow injury as designated hitter. This allows Padres can work on moves to strengthen their infield and create a powerful lineup.
Decisions, Decisions, Decisions
One exciting option is playing Donovan Solano, who recently has been kept on the bench all but forgotten. He made a crucial appearance on Tuesday night batting for Wade. He hit a leadoff single that triggered a game-winning rally. As mentioned before, he has played third base for Machado and has some experience at second and first base. His flexibility leaves him to be an option if the Padres are willing to take advantage of his talents.
Another potential option is moving Bogarts back to shortstop where he thrived through most of his career. This would free a spot at second base that Cronenworth could slide into, putting Arraez on first base. Alternatively, Solano can take over at second base, leaving Cronenworth in at first base and Arráez as the designated hitter. However, Bogaerts has denied any interest in moving back to his old position and has focused on getting Kim back.
The Padres infield has seen numerous rotations this season but none have stuck. With a freshly rested Kim on the way back and eager bench players now is the time for the team to solidify their infield players. These choices are critical for the Padres moving forward and might come back to haunt them.
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