This offseason, the San Diego Padres only signed one major contract to bolster their offense. That move came with the signing of KBO slugger Sung-Mun Song to a 4-year, $15 million deal. It was a move that fans could feel somewhat excited about, offering a hope for the Padres middling offense to get a spark from the speedy infielder who slugged 20-plus homers in the KBO.
The Padres Need to Make a Decision About This Bench Bat
After Jake Cronenworth got sent to the injured list with concussion symptoms, Song was called up to the big-league roster. He hit decently in his time in the minors, slashing .293/.364/.354 with a .718 OPS. Long story short, Song was making good contact but didn’t seem to slug.
It was expected that Song would be slow-played in his MLB debut. He was spoken of during Spring Training as someone who could be a versatile player, filling a super-utility role. His bat offered some tantalizing possibilities, and Song hit 2-for-4 with an RBI double in his first MLB start against the San Francisco Giants earlier this season.
Since then, however, Song hasn’t played very much. Instead, the Padres have opted to start Fernando Tatis Jr. at second base to have a combination of Miguel Andujar, Nick Castellanos, and Gavin Sheets in the lineup. That’s mostly worked for San Diego’s offense, but Song has only started seven of his 16 games. That lack of use has raised questions about Song’s place with the club.
The Argument Surrounding Song
Song spent the entirety of his career in the KBO before coming over to MLB this season. Across 824 games in Korea, Song owns a .283/.347/.431 slash line with 80 home runs. Like with many other international players, there was a belief that production would taper off a bit in the majors. It certainly has, though Song hasn’t exactly had the largest sample size.
And that’s where the problem lies. Song hasn’t exactly gotten many opportunities to prove himself. Despite the Padres offense underperforming lately, the Padres have continued to display a lack of trust in Song’s ability to handle himself at the major-league level. But the problem then is understanding why the Padres won’t send Song back to Triple-A.
If San Diego doesn’t trust that his bat is ready, then send him down to the minors. If he is ready, then they have to play him more often than they are right now. Song has only gotten opportunities to play second base late in games when the Padres have a lead. Tatis has moved back to right field, and Song has taken over at second.
But, with the Padres recent offensive woes, why not allow Song to prove himself? Castellanos has been viewed as a more reliable bat to have in the lineup, so he’s taken the spot that Song would otherwise hold. That being said, Castellanos hasn’t looked great, batting .186 this season and .167 over his last seven games. It seems like allowing Song to play second and bat against big-leaguers — while moving the Platinum Glove of Tatis back to right field — seems like a great move for them to make.
If they’re worried, he’ll struggle against big-league pitching, then send him down to El Paso so he can work his way up. Otherwise, play him. But one thing’s for certain. Leaving him on the bench isn’t a sustainable solution for Song to acclimate to MLB.
A Crowded Bench Picture
In large part, that problem is due to a crowded and talented bench. The Padres have arguably one of the best benches in MLB. Andujar, Castellanos, Ty France, Bryce Johnson, and Song have filled out that group nicely. Andujar was expected to be a platoon bat against left-handed pitching, but has been the everyday designated hitter for the team.
Aside from him, the group has formed a solid bench that has made meaningful contributions to the club. Manager Craig Stammen has consistently shown an affinity for using his bench pieces. Of the four, France has had the most potent bat recently. He’s batting .350 with two homers in his last seven games. That production has forced Song out of a starting spot, but he’ll need to get starts soon before Cronenworth returns from his concussion injury. Once he does, Song will likely be demoted to the minor leagues.
It’s possible that the Padres could call up another prospect. Outfielder Jase Bowen has looked good so far and could have been called up when Jackson Merrill injured his back. Bowen could still be called up in place of Johnson, though it seems more likely that it would be in place of Song.
Main Photo Credits: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images
