PHILADELPHIA — Xander Bogaerts, known for his relentless dedication and unwillingness to miss games, has shown signs of revitalizing his performance at the plate this season with the San Diego Padres. Despite battling a shoulder injury that limited his capabilities earlier, Bogaerts is currently hitting .317 over his last 90 plate appearances, signaling that he may be finding his stride again.
Bogaerts’ persistence stretches back to his tenure with the Boston Red Sox, where former manager Alex Cora often had to encourage him to rest despite his eagerness to stay in the lineup. This strong will has continued through his career, even as recent physical setbacks have impacted his batting output.
The Impact of Injury and Early Season Challenges
This season, Bogaerts has faced some difficulties linked to a lingering shoulder issue, which even required a cortisone shot. The injury has limited certain movements, such as diving plays on the field, to avoid aggravation. Despite these restrictions, Bogaerts remains optimistic about his recovery.
“The shoulder is getting better. I can’t be really diving that much on the field — for now. That’s how it gets aggravated. At least we’re kind of aware of where that comes from,”
Bogaerts said during the Padres’ recent series against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Last year, he fractured the same shoulder while diving for a ball, which curtailed him to 111 games — a season low outside of the COVID-shortened 2020 season. His shoulder troubles have been a notable factor in his fluctuating form during his transition to the Padres after signing an 11-year, $280 million contract in December 2022.
Bogaerts’ Recent Surge Highlights Renewed Consistency
Early struggles with the Padres’ offense led to criticism, given the magnitude of his contract and past performances. Bogaerts ended his debut Padres season with a .285 batting average, 19 home runs, and a .790 OPS. However, his stats declined last year, and through much of the current season, his numbers hovered in the mid-.600 OPS range with only five home runs to date.
Yet, lately, there has been a noticeable improvement. In his past 90 plate appearances, Bogaerts has hit .317 with a .854 OPS, including better on-base and slugging percentages. Padres manager Mike Shildt confirmed that signs of improvement appeared weeks ago and praised Bogaerts’ dedication.
“I really believe [he’s found something],”
Shildt said.
“And, rightfully, you get asked the questions, because it’s a performance-based game, and some of the performance hadn’t been up to his standards. But I could comfortably and confidently answer that three weeks ago we [began] seeing more consistency in Xander’s bat speed and exit velocity. We just weren’t seeing results. I am so glad that he didn’t get discouraged.”
Bogaerts’ Resilience and Perspective on Expectations
Bogaerts is known not just for his skill but for his emotional intensity and resilient mindset. While setbacks have affected his game, discouragement is never part of his narrative. The sense of humility that comes with baseball’s highs and lows has ingrained a strong character in him over time.
“I mean, obviously my family plays a role,”
Bogaerts said.
“But baseball can humble you, man. I always tell these guys my story at 21 I was in my first full season in the big leagues and I made two errors and I got booed. I was 21. I should make a couple errors. I remember, I was like, ‘What the f— was that? That was a big like, ‘Whoa,’ Yeah. I mean, I’m 21. We just won the World Series the year before, so probably the expectation and all of that.”
While the expectations in San Diego are more measured compared to his early years in Boston, Bogaerts maintains a steadfast focus on winning. At 32 years old, he brings invaluable playoff experience and two World Series titles to a Padres roster filled with star talent but little championship success.
“It’s a wonderful trait,”
Shildt remarked.
“It’s a hard trait. It’s one of the things that allows you to establish yourself in this league. It’s also a part of being a real professional in this league. That’s why this guy’s been a winning player and been on two World Series winning clubs.”
Additional Updates from Around Major League Baseball
Elsewhere in MLB, Rafael Devers has struggled at the plate since his trade to the Giants, posting a .203 batting average with 25 strikeouts in 67 plate appearances. Bogaerts remains confident in Devers’ natural hitting ability despite the adjustment period. “He’s born to hit,” Bogaerts said.
“Balls, strikes. Anything. He can chase balls.”
The Washington Nationals’ James Wood announced he will participate in the 2025 Home Run Derby in Atlanta, an event seen as beneficial for both his career and the sport’s fan engagement. Meanwhile, the MLB has placed Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz on paid leave amid a gambling investigation, raising questions about the influence of legalized sports betting across professional leagues.
On the pitching side, Clayton Kershaw achieved a milestone by becoming the 20th pitcher to record 3,000 strikeouts during a game against the Chicago White Sox. However, an incident in that same game saw Max Muncy leave due to a knee injury after a collision with Michael Taylor during a steal attempt. Kershaw expressed surprise at the steal attempt, reflecting growing scrutiny over situational plays.
Jeremy Peña’s excellent season was interrupted by a rib fracture. At the time, Peña had a .322 batting average with an .867 OPS and 11 home runs, positioning him as a strong candidate for the American League All-Star team.
Finally, the Detroit Tigers will be well represented at the All-Star game, with Javy Baez starting in the outfield alongside second baseman Gleyber Torres. Detroit continues to lead the AL with 54 wins, underlining manager A.J. Hinch’s successful leadership this season.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. What bone did Xander Bogaerts break?
A. Xander Bogaerts, the All-Star second baseman for the San Diego Padres, injured his left shoulder during a dive. He is now on the 10-day injured list.