Padres News: Ha-Seong Kim Faces Slow Recovery from Shoulder Injury.
The San Diego Padres are navigating a challenging period as shortstop Ha-Seong Kim deals with a jammed shoulder injury sustained against the Colorado Rockies on August 18, 2024. According to Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune, Kim was most recently seen playing catch on Friday but did not throw across the diamond. This incident has caused concern among fans and the team, particularly with Manager Mike Shildt’s recent updates indicating that Kim’s recovery is progressing slower than hoped. “We’ll evaluate how he throws and see how he is able to take that next step,” Shildt said “He’s starting over to a point. … He’s not starting from (zero). It definitely
has gone back in his throwing intensity.” Prior to the injury, Kim had solidified his reputation as a standout player, wrapping up the 2023 season with a notable .260 batting average, 140 hits, and a commendable 38 stolen bases, complemented by a Gold Glove Award. In contrast, this season, his performance dipped to a .233 batting average with 94 hits and 22 stolen bases before his injury, raising questions about his long-term impact on the team. With Kim sidelined, Shildt has had to make significant adjustments to the lineup. Xander Bogaerts has stepped into the shortstop position for the first time this season, allowing Donovan Solano to take over first base. “The
Bogaerts decision starts with Kim not being back,” said Shildt. “So, we have a void at shortstop. (Mason) McCoy has done a nice job. This creates an opportunity for Bogaerts. We talked to him a couple different times, most recently Sunday.” “Bogie said he’s comfortable going over there. He’s comfortable with this field, having played in the American League. He felt good about it. This also creates an opportunity for Solano to get into the lineup. So, it’s a lot of variables and that’s where the lineup is today.” “Every lineup is independent of every other lineup. So, we’ll just continue to look at it and let you know when we post the lineup tomorrow.” “I’m sure I mentioned last time, we
had a day off and he had a day off as well,” Shildt said. “He’s still where he was a couple days ago, sort of in a holding pattern on his throwing. When we’re trying to get the progression back again. He wasn’t able to take that next step.” “I don’t know on when he returns. Once a guy doesn’t take that next step … clearly, it’s not a step back but it’s not a step forward. So, he’s not able to progress and we’ve short of flat-lined and we’ll just have to evaluate it.” Understanding the implications of Kim’s injury is crucial, not just for current performances but also in considering the dynamics of the upcoming player contracts and overall team strategy as they approach the conclusion of the season.
