There is an old saying in baseball that a crowded trainer’s room looks a lot like a MASH unit. Suddenly, the San Diego Padres’ training staff is treating a high volume of injuries at the wrong time of the 2025 baseball season.
Granted, the Padres had their fair share of injuries this season. But the recent road trip and the Labor Day opening-series contest have tested the Friars’ roster depth. Several key contributors suffered injuries that could change the look of the roster for the final month of the campaign.
The loss of Adam is devastating
The Padres placed Jason Adam on the injury list, as he is expected to miss the remainder of the season after rupturing his left quad tendon in the series-opening game against the Baltimore Orioles. The loss of Adam is a significant blow to the bullpen.
The injury forces Jeremiah Estrada to rise in the pecking order and pitch in more high-leverage situations. The back of the ‘pen will remain intact, as Adrian Morejon and Mason Miller are the setup relievers before handing the reins to team closer Robert Suarez.
Bogaerts’ bat will be missed
The injury malaise began when Xander Bogaerts fractured his foot in Seattle. Team doctors declared him out for the remainder of the regular season. However, all parties are holding some hope that Bogaerts can return for the postseason.
The offense will miss his bat, as Bogaerts worked his way back to becoming a consistent run-producer in 2025. His replacement will be Jose Iglesias, who is a good defender, but the Friars need more consistent hitting from him. Hopefully, playing every day will provide a spark at the plate.
The Padres’ offense works best when the bottom of the order turns the lineup over and forces opposing pitchers to face Fernando Tatis Jr., Luis Arraez, and Manny Machado with runners in scoring position.
Friars cannot lose Tatis Jr. for an extended time
If you hear a sigh of relief inside Petco Park, the exhale came from the Friars’ dugout. The team may have avoided an IL stint for their best outfielder, Fernando Tatis Jr., after he was seen clutching his hamstring in the last game of the Minnesota Twins series.
Padres skipper Mike Shildt kept Tatis Jr. out of the lineup for one day, so as not to put his legs at risk. Shildt must avoid pushing him to the brink of blowing out his hamstring. Any time on the IL would be devastating for the team’s offense.
It is too late in the season to lose a player of Tatis Jr.’s ability. The offense cannot have another bat missing from the lineup during the stretch run to the playoffs. Shildt was correct to give him a day to preserve his body.
Injuries create opportunities for other players to succeed. At this point in the season, no team can afford to lose players indefinitely. The Padres need someone to step up and make an immediate contribution.
