The Friar Faithful knew something was serious when Xander Bogaerts collapsed to the ground after fouling a ball off his foot against the Seattle Mariners on Aug. 27. The San Diego Padres shortstop remained in the game, but subsequent imaging showed a non-displaced fracture in his left foot.
The Padres placed Bogaerts on the 10-day injury list, as the team confirmed the injury is not season-ending. The estimated recovery time is six to eight weeks, which guarantees he will miss the remainder of the regular
season. However, there is optimism that Bogaerts could return for the postseason.
So, what happens next?
Friars skipper Mike Shildt has chosen utility player Jose Iglesias to be the primary shortstop in the lineup. It will be tough to duplicate Bogaert’s run production. Before the injury, he was hitting .262 with 10 HRs and 49 RBIs in 131 games. Iglesias cannot equal those numbers, as he is batting .233 with one home run and 30 RBIs in 118 games.
The Padres brought up infielder Mason McCoy from Triple-A to replace Bogaerts on the roster. In 2025, McCoy is 0-6 with a run scored in limited playing time. His career batting average is .179 in three major league seasons. It is not outside the realm of possibility that the Friars look outside the organization to resolve their infield depth dilemma.
Preller eyeing the waiver wire for right addition
Even though the trade deadline has passed, major league teams can still add players to the roster via the waiver wire. Padres President of Baseball Operations and General Manager A.J. Preller is looking to claim players who were recently placed on outright waivers. For Preller, his top priority is adding a veteran infielder to the mix.
They’re invaluable for late-game situations. Shildt may need an experienced pinch-hitter who has a proven track record of making contact with runners in scoring position. Or the situation may call for a veteran defensive substitute to tighten up the defense late in close games.
The pressure of playing in a chase for a postseason berth can be immense for inexperienced players. Often, they become overwhelmed in the moment.
Teams crave a veteran presence on the bench, as they have faced intense situations before in their major league career. Veterans remain composed and ready to capitalize on the other team’s mistakes.
The odds of the Padres making the postseason are good. But no contending team can afford to lose an everyday starting player for an extended time this late in the season. The Friars should jump at the chance of adding another veteran to the roster.
Let’s see who is coming to San Diego.
