Kim needs shoulder surgery, won't return for postseason
AJ Cassavell
@AJCassavellPHOENIX -- The Padres will be without their starting shortstop for the entirety of their postseason push.
Ha-Seong Kim -- who can hit free agency this offseason -- announced on Saturday before the Padres' 5-0 victory over the D-backs at Chase Field that he will have season-ending surgery on a “small tear” in the labrum in his right shoulder. That injury has kept him out since he sustained it in mid-August while diving back into first base in Colorado.
“I really tried everything to come back and help the team,” Kim said through interpreter David Lee. “But my body just wouldn't listen to my mind. So I think, as of now, my season is over. It's really frustrating and disappointing, because we have a legitimate chance in the postseason, and I could have been part of it.”
The Padres have replaced Kim at shortstop by moving Xander Bogaerts from second base back to his original position, with Jake Cronenworth moving from first to second. Prior to the season, the Padres had moved Bogaerts to second, wanting to take full advantage of Kim’s elite defense at shortstop.
Now the Padres are staring down the prospect of a postseason run without one of the sport’s most impactful defenders. As recently as a couple days ago, the club was hopeful that Kim could return. He missed the team’s clinch party at Dodger Stadium this week while at the Padres’ spring complex in Peoria, Ariz.
“Why I went to Arizona in the first place was because I thought I could maybe come back,” Kim said. “I played in a rehab game. But the pain came back, so after many conversations, we decided to find out what the next step is and that’s how we came to decide on surgery.”
Now it’s worth wondering whether Kim has played his final game as a Padre. After signing with San Diego out of South Korea in 2021, Kim quickly became a fan favorite for his all-out playing style. He has posted a slash line of .242/.326/.380 with 47 home runs across four seasons and won the NL’s utility Gold Glove Award last year while receiving down-ballot MVP votes.
Kim wouldn’t put a timetable on his recovery. But his mutual option for next season is worth $10 million -- which he seems likely to decline considering his expected value on the free-agent market.
“To be honest, I haven't really put much thought into it because of the situation I'm in right now,” Kim said. “I'm only really focused on getting this fixed and coming back healthy next season.”
Kim was quick to cite his love for San Diego, for the Padres and for Padres fans.
“Obviously, San Diego's a huge part of me, because this is my fourth season with them,” Kim said. “Along the four years, we fought to get the World Series trophy every year, made great memories. The team almost feels like family to me now.
“I think we have a legitimate chance to win the whole thing this year. Although I won't be with the team on the field, I will be supporting them with all my heart throughout this ride.”
On Tuesday, after the Padres’ clinch, Cronenworth FaceTimed Kim into the Padres’ celebrations.
“I was really thankful that he called me to see the boys,” Kim said. “Obviously, it was a little disappointing that I couldn’t be there with them. But I really appreciated it, because it means that they were thinking about me, as well.”
Kim won’t be on the field over the next month. But he still might get to take in additional Padres celebrations. His injury is the only major injury issue currently affecting the club.
Bogaerts, Fernando Tatis Jr., Yu Darvish and Joe Musgrove all missed significant time this summer but have since returned. The Padres secured home-field advantage in the Wild Card Series with their victory over the Diamondbacks on Friday.
If anything, the Padres’ performance Saturday offered reassurances that the depth of this roster will shine through in Kim’s absence. With little to play for, the Padres rested a number of their regulars and called up Randy Vásquez for a spot start.
“There’s no question this club, regardless of who we put out there, is going to compete,” manager Mike Shildt said.
Sure enough, Vásquez carried a no-hitter into the sixth and held the D-backs -- who are fighting for their postseason lives -- scoreless over six frames. The Padres scored five times in the ninth, including back-to-back homers from Kyle Higashioka and Brandon Lockridge, the first of his career.