The San Diego Padres have shifted Xander Bogaerts from shortstop to second base for the upcoming MLS baseball season.
Today, Friday 16, it’s been reported that the two-time World Series champion will be playing second base to have Ha-Seong Kim play as shortstop for the Padres.
The new second-base star is being shifted to his new position just on year after San Diego signed him to an 11-year deal worth up to $280 million, while Ha-Seong Kim is coming off a 2023 Gold Glove utilityman season.
Bogaerts has had a successful trajectory, playing for the Boston Redsox for a decade, winning the World Series in 2013 and 2018, and has been a shortstop throughout his professional career until now.
Padres Manager Mike Shildt told the media they will see how it plays out with Xander performing in this new position with close evaluation.
”I can’t say it’s like etched in stone, 100%, we’re going to let him do it, but we’re going to see what it looks like,” Padres manager Mike Shildt told reporters Friday. “We’re going to evaluate it. He’s all-in right now to go over, give it his full due.”
Meanwhile, the two-time World Series champion has expressed that he had no problem shifting to second base if it benefits the Padres roster in the future.
“I was like, ‘Listen, man, if this is the way that you guys view the team is better,’ he said. I respect Kim, especially defensively. I actually admire him a lot.”
After winning a pair of championship rings in Boston, Xander says he’s open to this new role because he’s on the hunt for a third one, and this time, as a Padre.
“The only reason I came here was to win a World Series,” Bogaerts said. “If this is the way that we’re going to get one, so be it. I was just thinking I won one at third base. I won one at shortstop. It would be very nice to win one at second base.”
The San Diego Padres will begin Spring Training next Thursday, February 22, in Phoenix, where they’ll face divisional rivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers.