San Diego Padres infielder Xander Bogaerts left Monday’s game against the Atlanta Braves in the third inning after a shoulder injury.
Bogaerts was injured while diving for a hard-hit ground ball from Ronald Acuña Jr. at second base. He landed hard on his left shoulder and remained on the ground in obvious pain.
Short stop Ha-Seong Kim called for trainers, who appeared to examine Bogaerts for a possible dislocation. He left the game and was replaced at second base by Tyler Wade.
Preliminary imaging studies showed no structural damage to Bogaerts’ shoulder. according to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union Tribune. After the game, the Padres classified the injury as left shoulder inflammation.
“He’s got stability — more than it seemed like he would have — and he’s got some strength and some range of motion,” Padres manager Mike Shildt said. “More time will tell, but initial feedback is initially the best-case scenario.”
The Padres went on to win the first half of a day-night doubleheader 6-5. San Diego trailed 5-0 after the third inning, but rallied to take the lead in the eighth, when a Jake Cronenworth single and Manny Machado double scored four runs off Braves reliever Joe Jiménez.
Bogaerts, 31, has struggled this season, hitting .220 with a .584 OPS, six doubles, four home runs and 14 RBI in 199 at-bats. The four-time All-Star was moved from second base to shortstop for Kim, who is considered a better defensive player.
Earlier this month, the Padres acquired infielder Luis Arráez from the Miami Marlins, adding a hitter who has won batting titles the past two seasons. Arráez has played most of his career at second base, which seemed to put Bogaerts’ future at the position in doubt.
However, San Diego traded for Arráez not to replace Bogaerts, but to add a left-handed bat and depth to the lineup as he plays a variety of positions.
