San Diego Padres infielder Xander Bogaerts was forced to leave Monday’s game against the Atlanta Braves in the third inning after suffering a shoulder injury. Bogaerts injured his shoulder while diving for a ground ball hit by Ronald Acuña Jr., landing hard and causing visible discomfort. Ha-Seong Kim immediately signaled for medical assistance, leading to Bogaerts’ replacement by Tyler Wade at second base.
Initial tests reported by the San Diego Union Tribune’s Kevin Acee revealed no structural damage, suggesting the injury was left shoulder inflammation. “He’s got stability — more than it looked like he might have — and he’s got some strength and some range of motion,” commented Padres manager Mike Shildt, expressing optimism about Bogaerts’ condition.
Despite the setback, the Padres rallied from a 5-0 deficit to clinch a 6-5 victory in the first game of a day-night doubleheader. Key hits from Jake Cronenworth and Manny Machado in the eighth inning fueled the comeback against Braves reliever Joe Jiménez.
Bogaerts, a four-time All-Star, has faced challenges this season, with a batting average of .220 and an OPS of .584 over 199 plate appearances. The recent acquisition of Luis Arráez from the Miami Marlins, who is known for his batting prowess and versatility in the infield, adds depth to the Padres’ lineup but raises questions about Bogaerts’ future positioning.