The San Diego Padres' 2024 campaign struggles continue as another major bad news hits the team.
All-Star Xander Bogaerts was confirmed to be out for a lengthy period after being diagnosed with a fractured bone in his left shoulder.
The team initially hoped the injury wouldn't be as severe, but after several tests, they received the worst news.
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"[The news is] not as good as we would have hoped, especially after the initial imaging," Padres Manager Mike Shildt said.
"I'm not a timetable guy. He'll be on the IL and will be on the sidelines for a period of time. It's impossible to say how long; we're still gathering information."
Bogaerts, 31, has been great for the Padres' mediocre season. He was hitting .219 before the injury and had already knocked in four homers and 14 RBIs.
He suffered his latest injury against the Atlanta Braves when he dove to stop a Ronald Acuña Jr. grounder.
Xander Bogaerts' injury history and return date
The Padres are expected to be extra careful this time with the injury to the second baseman.
Bogaerts has shown toughness in his career, but an injury he ignored back then haunted him.
As part of the Boston Red Sox, the Aruban national tried to play through a sprained joint during the middle of the 2017 season.
He was recommended to be put on the disabled list but insisted that his name be scratched off.
He decided to continue playing until the end of the season but said in the offseason that it was a mistake, as it made it hard for him to swing comfortably.
Fast forward to 2024, and the Padres are taking all precautions.
Bogaerts is out indefinitely for this season, but Padres beat writer and San Diego Union-Tribune writer Kevin Acee suggested that he can only return to action by summer.
"No indication of labrum tear or need for surgery. Bone has to heal. He intends to play again this season, perhaps by late summer," Acee wrote on X.
"He remains in Cincinnati with team and more tests are planned today."
Xander Bogaerts replacement
On Wednesday, the Padres called up David Peralta to play the infield against the Cincinnati Reds.
He is a 36-year-old veteran who signed a Minor League contract with the Padres on May 18.
Shildt, however, is not yet settled on who will take Bogaerts' place.
"We're still in the process of figuring that out," he said.
"There are some things that we are thinking about that will come into play the next couple of days that we'll explore. We have a lot of options between three or four different guys."
Other possible options are Luis Arraez and Donovan Solano.
The San Diego Padres are still struggling to find their identity this season.
They are second in the National League West but with a 26-26 record. They are 5-5 in their last 10.
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