Xander Bogaerts’ injury is worse than initially feared.
After the San Diego Padres first diagnosed their infielder with inflammation, they placed him on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with a fractured socket in his left shoulder. According to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-TribuneThe injury is expected to sideline Bogaerts for 2-3 months.
Bogaerts suffered the injury Monday while diving for a ball against the Atlanta Braves. He felt pain immediately after making the play at second base and was unable to get up to throw the ball. He remained on the ground for several moments before getting up and leaving the game.
Preliminary x-rays showed no structural damage, and the Padres listed him as day to day with inflammation. According to Acee, an MRI performed on Wednesday revealed the fracture. He was scheduled to undergo a CT scan to clarify the severity of the fracture and determine if there was damage to the labrum. For now, the Padres do not anticipate Bogaerts needing surgery, according to the report.
Bogaerts told Acee he heard “a couple of crunches” when he landed.
“I remember what I heard, like a couple of cracks,” Bogaerts said. “I didn’t feel like anything was coming out and then coming back in. “The only thing I remember hearing was a couple of creaks.”
He also downplayed the 2-3 month timeline.
“Two to three months, no,” Bogaerts said. “No no. I understand we want to be smart, but I’ll come back before then. I don’t like the sound of all those months.”
Bogaerts, 31, is in his second season with the Padres after signing an 11-year, $280 million contract in 2022. He joined the Padres after winning five Silver Sluggers and making four All-Star teams in 10 seasons with the Boston Red Sox.
He got off to a slow start this season after hitting .285/.350/.440 with 19 home runs, 58 RBIs and 19 stolen bases in his first season in San Diego. In 47 games before his injury, Bogaerts was hitting .219/.265./316 with four home runs, 14 RBIs and four stolen bases.
The Padres called up 11-year veteran David Peralta to take Bogaerts’ place on the active roster. Peralta batted sixth in San Diego’s lineup in Wednesday’s 7-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. With the win, the Padres improved to 26-26, 7.5 games behind the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West.
