The Padres announced today that second baseman Jake Cronenworth has been placed on the seven-day concussion-related injured list. Infielder Sung-Mun Song was recalled to take his place on the roster. The Friars also reinstated left-hander Yuki Matsui from the 15-day IL and optioned fellow lefty Kyle Hart.
The club hasn’t released any details on Cronenworth’s injury, such as how he sustained it or how long they expect him to be shelved. For what it’s worth, he hasn’t been in good form all year. He is currently sporting a .144/.272/.196 line on the season. Ideally, some time to heal up will get him back in good form. He had a strong .246/.367/.377 performance just last year.
His injury will allow Song to get his first real major league action. The Padres signed him this offseason to a four-year, $15MM deal. He got that coming off a strong two-year showing in South Korea, slashing .327/.397/.524 over 2024 and 2025 with the Kiwoom Heroes.
He hasn’t yet had a chance to transfer that kind of production to North America. An oblique issue popped up in January and ultimately put him on the IL to start the year. After he got healthy and completed a rehab assignment, the Padres sent him to the minors in mid-April.
He was briefly recalled when the Padres were facing the Diamondbacks in Mexico City, as the club was allowed a 27th man for that series. Song technically made his major league debut but in about the briefest way possible. He pinch ran for catcher Luis Campusano in the top of the eighth and then was replaced by Freddy Fermin in the bottom of the frame.
Song has a .293/.364/.354 line in Triple-A this year. That looks okay but is actually subpar in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, translating to an 82 wRC+. For what it’s worth, he’s been heating up. He departs El Paso sitting on an eight-game Triple-A hitting streak with a .351/.400/.459 line in that time. That’s a small sample but it’s possible he was just getting into a groove after starting the season injured.
He’s been splitting his time between shortstop, second base and third base. Presumably, Song will take over as the everyday second baseman while Cronenworth is out, though it’s perhaps worth considering the Fernando Tatis Jr. wild card. The Padres have been operating without a real backup middle infielder this season. Cronenworth has been the backup to shortstop Xander Bogaerts while Tatis has been the backup to Cronenworth.
Tatis came up as a shortstop but has been in right field for years. He only had one inning of major league experience at second base prior to this season but has logged 49 frames there in 2026. If the Friars felt comfortable with it, they could try Tatis there more often while Cronenworth is out. Tatis is out to a slow start this year, with a .252/.324/.301 line and no home runs yet, but he has a strong track record and a .275/.353/.504 career line.
The Padres have Ramón Laureano and Jackson Merrill next to Tatis in the outfield most nights. If they were to move Tatis to second from time to time, that would create more opportunities for guys like Miguel Andujar, Gavin Sheets, Nick Castellanos and Bryce Johnson.
Castellanos and Johnson aren’t hitting much right now but Andujar has a .305/.337/.476 line. He has been used mostly at third base and in the designated hitter spot this year but has some corner outfield experience. Sheets is hitting around a league average level while mostly playing first base. If he did play the outfield a bit more, that could open things up for Ty France, who has a .283/.321/.528 line this season.
Perhaps the Padres won’t overthink things, especially with Cronenworth potentially only missing a week. It’s possible they will go the simplest route and just have Song at second for the next little while. He is indeed at the keystone tonight, with Tatis in his usual right field spot.
Photo courtesy of Isaiah J. Downing, Imagn Images
His offense is offensive
Jake seemingly has been shaked and baked. You never hope for an injury, but that at least gives possibility of a return to 2025 form.
Song did more in one game than coninworth did all season
Id like to get rid of Nick Castellanos and bring up Miranda or Solak
Johnson should go and bring up Bowen
I think Nick’s days are numbered.
Not like Bowen is tearing up the PCL. Glad they got to keep him at AAA but he needs to he batting every day and hitting more before becoming the 26 man on the mlb squad.
Solak is doing better but still, the every day ABs comes into play.
I hope Song plays every game during the call up to let us see 5-6 games of ABs. He can have all of NC’s ABs for a week and then for the rest of the year if he hits.
No doubt a case of inflated El Paso numbers, but Mason McCoy is showing some pop this year and would likely be next called up if they need middle IF help
I think to finish a game Tatis, Merrill or Song could be counted on. Yes, McCoy has been popping in El Paso as have a couple of others thst we watched in ST.
Taylor and Solak for sure. Tirso and Salas at AA.
Alex McCoy too!
Yeah. I check milb box scores and saw we had a hitting McCoy in 2 places!
Suckitis?
Can concussions last 5 years?
Yours seems to have lasted as long as you have been on this website or longer. CTE is serious. You should have your head checked out by a professional.
Another Padres shortstop down
He got hit on the foot last night.
Now the concussion list? BS!
He was hit in the face with a fastball by kikuchi. They didn’t diagnose him correctly after it happened. He mentioned to the beat reporters today that the last 4 days he felt like he was hungover even though he hasn’t been drinking.
On the 18th*. He has just been playing through it and it’s clear he is not ok by how bad he’s been.
Luis ARRAEZ 2026 2B
Rank 1 – OAA- 8
That 17th percentile no lateral movement, noodle arm is holding up pretty well for the Giants.
Yeah, it’s the exact problem with over emphasizing metrics to the exclusion of common sense. Shildt and Preller kept playing him at DH or 1B. Never really gave him a fair shake at 2B, where his value is at its peak. Glad to see him get off to a nice start with the Giants, and he’s a perfect compliment to an otherwise low BA lineup
I feel like the wRC stat just shouldn’t be used when it comes to the PCL. If you’re hitting .293 with a good OBP, you’re hitting very well.
Have to think this is a positive for the team. Cronenworth has hit so poorly this season. Let him reset, do a rehab stint after 10 days on the IL, and come back healthy and ready to play.
Any news on how Song has done at SS in AAA? He’s now the backup to Bo
He has played very well in the 8 games he has started at SS. His range is average, but he has made the plays on the balls he got too.
Good to hear. He’s starting today at SS while Bogey gets a rest day
Honestly completely forgot about Cronenworth’s contract. Sheesh. Good luck Padres