Padres manager Mike Shildt told reporters (including AJ Cassavell of MLB.com) this evening that shortstop Ha-Seong Kim’s season is over. Kim later told reporters (including Cassavell) that he’s undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery. The shortstop has been on the IL for over a month due to inflammation in his shoulder, and Shildt revealed yesterday that Kim might ultimately need to go under the knife to repair the labrum in his shoulder.
It’s a huge blow for a Padres club that has leaned heavily on the 28-year-old since he enjoyed a breakout season back in 2022. That year, Kim stepped in to replace troubled star Fernando Tatis Jr. at shortstop amid a lost season caused by off-the-field injuries and a PED suspension. He excelled in the role, hitting an above-average .251/.325/.383 (105 wRC+) in 150 games while playing strong defense at shortstop. Kim was pushed back to second base by the addition of Xander Bogaerts last year but took yet another step forward with the bat while playing slick defense across not only the keystone but also shortstop and third base as needed.
Last year, Kim slashed .260/.351/.398 with a wRC+ of 110 while swiping 38 bags in 47 attempts. That overall package was enough to earn Kim his first career Gold Glove award and even some downballot MVP votes. Coming off that strong season and a lackluster season defensively from Bogaerts, the Padres elected to switch the two entering this year to return Kim to shortstop. That seemingly set him up for what could be his third straight career year, but things didn’t play out quite that way as the infielder took a slight step back at the plate. In 121 games for the Padres this year, Kim posted a wRC+ of 101 while stealing 22 bases in 27 attempts. That down season has been further exacerbated by his shoulder woes, which have kept him from participating in the stretch run and now will remove him from San Diego’s postseason plans entirely.
Looking ahead for the Padres, it seems likely that the club will now stick with Bogaerts at shortstop headed into the postseason, as they’ve done since moving him back to the position earlier this month in response to Kim’s injury. It’s been a down season for Bogaerts overall as he’s been limited to just 110 games so far by injuries while posting a 94 wRC+ that’s his worst since 2014, but he’s managed to turn things around since returning from the injured list back in July with a solid .295/.336/.430 slash line across 259 plate appearances that’s good for a 116 wRC+. That’s opened second base up for regular starts from Jake Cronenworth, leaving first base available for a timeshare between Donovan Solano and Luis Arraez, the latter of whom also factors into the club’s DH mix alongside David Peralta on days he isn’t playing first base.
As for Kim himself, the shortstop will now head into free agency facing a new layer of uncertainty. While he’s still all but certain to decline his $8MM mutual option for next season in favor of a $2MM buyout, it’s possible that teams could be more hesitant to offer the versatile infielder a sizable multi-year deal this winter due to concerns about how his shoulder issues could impact him on both sides of the ball going forward. Kim appeared likely to be a consensus top infield option in free agency this winter behind Alex Bregman and Willy Adames, making it easy to imagine him landing a significant contract. Between his down 2024 season at the plate and now his impending surgery, however, Kim’s future seems a bit murkier than it did even a few days ago.
Gwynning
Good luck Ha-Seong!
Warden of the North(acoss13)
Maybe Preller works his magic and re-signs him in the offseason.
Big whiffa
They need too ! Him and profar put that offense on another level and that’s not an easy accomplishment in that ballpark
Fernando Ringworm Jr.
Won’t be that hard.
sad tormented neglected mariners fan
I doubt it I think the padres are still shedding some money
And besides they have other free agents like tanner scott
BaseballisLife
Eric Kutsenda said the Padres are set to go up to or over the CBT in 2025. They are under $190 million for 2025 so if he lives up to his word they have quite a bit to spend.
MLB Top 100 Commenter
“Ha-Seong limb”
“Ha-Seong limb”
Friars seemed to be playing fine without him.
Balk
Come on over to the Giants, Lee is here for ya!
davemlaw
No thanks. Wasn’t hot on this guy before the injury and now I’m downright cold.
But a player coming off injury is catnip for Farhan. Hopefully, Posey steps in again and extinguishes this.
antibelt
Strong defense and a WRC thenlast three years. Giants could slide Fitz to second and go big on a first baseman and right field and resign Snell.
Redwolves3
Kim probably was Zaidi’s primary target for Giants SS position.
Can Zaidi afford to pursue Kim with recovery time being 10-12 months (basically making him unavailable for 2025)?
Or, will Zaidi pursue other SS options like Adames or Bichette?
JohnnyMute
He won’t be missed. He’s been a clubhouse cancer all year and our Padres do not need another distraction heading into October.
Burritobeast22
I really hope this is sarcasm. By all accounts he the heart and sole of this team and everyone loves him including us real padre fans!
JohnnyMute
I am the real Padre fan. I have a hat and everything. You smell phony to me and therefore I no longer trust you
8======D (Carl Winslow)
Only true fans actually have hats due to their limited number. If you really do have a hat, then I will side with you on this debate.
hiflew
I am not usually a member of the spelling police, but I have to point this one out. It is heart and SOUL, not heart and sole, You have got him as the bottom of the foot. Sorry, but I just found it humorous.
Canuckleball
“You have got him as the bottom of the foot”
…Or possibly as a fish
8======D (Carl Winslow)
A flat bottom-feeding fish.
MLB Top 100 Commenter
Burrito
Would that make his surgery “fillet of sole”?
Big whiffa
How’s he a cancer ?
mlb fan
“How’s he a cancer”….Don’t take the bait. That guy doesn’t know what goes on in the Padres clubhouse anymore than you or I.
He’s just trying to insult well liked players, to get under your skin. Leave him alone and he goes away on his own. Remember, don’t take the bait.
case
and all that sneaking around San Diego eating people’s pets, distractions the team just doesn’t need right now.
mlb fan
“Eating people’s pets”…Racial humor is either really, really funny or in bad taste and offensive. Care to guess which one your’s is?
Brew’88
I wouldn’t call it a “huge blow”, Kim’s been fairly meh this year. And it’s been assumed for some time now that he wouldn’t be back -the goodbye sort of happened some time ago. It will be great to have him in the clubhouse for the playoff run.
Informed Sportsball Discussion
I agree that it is unfortunate and sad, but not a huge blow. That is no disrespect to Kim. San Diego has just had lots of other pieces to weather absences of key players this year.
HiredGun23
Not a huge blow. This team is more than just one guy. That said, I chanted his name each time he came up to bat. I wish him a complete recovery and a great 2025 season, wherever he ends up.
JohnnyMute
It’s better off if he is no longer allowed to be around the team. He’s getting free medical treatment from our Padres and he won’t even be on our team next year. Says it all right there. Jerk
Old York
No worries, SD has a whole team of shortstops to replace him. Even their pitchers are shortstops!
Informed Sportsball Discussion
That’s too bad. Sucks to not be able to be a part of the playoff run.
Good on Kim for being a consummate baller and teammate. He will be missed if he departs Aan Diego.
mlb fan
Ha Sing’s defense is practically perfect. If he improves a bit offensively he could become a huge star.
Fernando Ringworm Jr.
The option is a mutual option not a player option. And the dollar figure is unclear. I was under the impression that it was $7m plus $3m in potential incentives with a $2m buyout. It’ll get declined either way tho so the discuss is purely academic.
VegasSDfan
Great player, fun to watch. Hopefully, he comes back next year.
SteveFinleyEnthusiast
That’s too bad. He’s definitely had a down year, but he’s a fan favorite who plays hard and has good energy. Hoping he bounces back from the surgery and has a good 2025, whether that’s with the Friars or another squad.
BaseballisLife
Grade 3 slap tear. He will be out until June-July.