San Diego Padres Jake Cronenworth could display defensive prowess in 2025
A return to second base is a welcome sight
The San Diego Padres infield alignment is set for the 2025 season. Barring an injury, it will be Luis Arraez at first base, Jake Cronenworth at second base, Xander Bogaerts at shortstop and Manny Machado at third base. It has the makings of an excellent defensive unit.
Keep an eye on the second base position, where Cronenworth is scooping up every ground ball hit in his direction. It would not shock anyone to see him finally get recognized as one of the top-fielding second basemen in the majors.
Versatility did more harm than good
Cronenworth is a two-time All-Star at second base. But he has not played that position full-time since the 2022 season. Cronenworth brings an athletic defensive style (26 errors in 3322 career fielding chances) to second base. He has one of the strongest arms among his peers, as scouts thought Cronenworth could have developed into a major-league reliever.
Not long ago, Cronenworth’s versatility made it challenging to be recognized as a starting second baseman. Due to injuries and providing other starters a much-needed day off, Cronenworth had to move around the infield. Team managers believed his ability to back up the other infield positions was more valuable than having him play second base regularly.
Out of necessity, Cronenworth became the Padres starting first baseman in 2023. The move to a new position eliminated his ability to remain the main backup at the other infield positions.
Cronenworth’s defensive efficiency has always been high, as his career fielding percentage is .992, playing primarily at first and second base. However, Cronenworth is far better at saving runs at second base than any other position.
Cronenworth’s return to second base
In mid-August, Ha-Seong Kim suffered a right shoulder injury that required surgery, causing him to miss the remainder of the 2024 season. The injury ended a disappointing season for Kim, as his batting average dropped nearly 30 points from the season before. The Friar Faithful was becoming increasingly frustrated by his inability to drive in runners in scoring position.
After Kim was ruled out, Padres manager Mike Shildt shuffled his infield defensive alignment. He moved Bogaerts back to his original position at shortstop and Cronenworth was named the second baseman for the remainder of the season. Shildt was confident the changes provided solid infield defense.
Initially, Cronenworth’s range suffered due to a lack of work at second base. He had to reacquaint himself to the demands of the position. Understanding that hard work comes without shortcuts, Cronenworth used his strong work ethic to make a defensive impact with his slick fielding during the Padres run to a postseason berth.
You get the sense that Cronenworth belongs at second base. Hopefully, the accolades will come his way once the regular season begins.
