The Padres were cautiously optimistic following the preliminary imaging of Ha-Seong Kim’s right shoulder but avoided making definitive statements.
Manager Mike Shildt shared that the initial results appeared somewhat positive but urged restraint. “It looks more favorable initially,” Shildt commented Monday afternoon. “However, I say that with caution. … While it seems to be mostly favorable, we don’t have a timeline yet, and it could have been worse. We’re still in the process of gathering more information.”
Kim left Sunday’s game in Colorado after diving back to first base during a pickoff attempt. He immediately clutched his shoulder and walked off the field without waiting for the athletic trainers. The team described the injury as a “jammed” shoulder.
Shildt noted that Kim’s lack of an immediate placement on the injured list was a potentially good sign. “It doesn’t seem like there’s anything imminent that would be long-term,” Shildt said. “Beyond that, it’s still uncertain for us.”
Tyler Wade started in Kim’s position against the Twins on Monday night. Shildt mentioned that if Kim were to miss an extended period, the team might consider a more permanent shortstop solution from their roster of natural shortstops.
“We have several players capable of playing shortstop,” Shildt said.
Only Wade took grounders at shortstop before Monday’s game. If a semi-permanent change were needed, Jake Cronenworth seems the most likely candidate. The Padres appear hesitant to move Xander Bogaerts back to shortstop after his transition to second base, given the extensive work involved.
Cronenworth, who has primarily played first base for the Padres over the past two seasons, has experience at shortstop from his minor league days and has made 45 major league starts there, with 36 of those coming in 2021.
Kim arrived at Petco Park about three hours before Monday’s game following his MRI, and he reportedly felt more encouraged by the results.