CINCINNATI -- If necessity is the mother of invention, then caution is the father of prevention.
Xander Bogaerts was back in the lineup Friday night at Great American Ball Park after jamming his left shoulder with a headfirst slide into home plate on Tuesday night against Washington and sitting out the finale on Wednesday at Petco Park.
It was the same shoulder that caused him discomfort earlier this month and the same shoulder that he fractured last year diving for a ball that shortened his 2024 season and required surgery.
Bogaerts, who entered Friday’s game batting .246 with four homers and 29 RBIs, wants to stay on the field and build those numbers up. Following a 3-for-22 slump in mid-June, he hit .353 during the six-game homestand with a double, four walks and just one strikeout in 21 plate appearances.
“Just like we had a tough stretch as a team, I had a tough stretch on my own, and it just wasn't falling for whatever reason,” Bogaerts said. “Just got to keep working, stay confident and trusting in your work -- trusting [and] knowing the type of player that you are -- that the results and numbers are going to be there.”
The shortstop might be more concerned about just staying on the field and not sliding headfirst when he doesn’t have to, especially into home.
“I’m feeling OK,” Bogaerts said before Friday’s series opener. “I think on the stolen bases, it might be harder. That's one that I don't really do feet first. I feel if I go feet first, I might be out. The one at home, I think that's actually pretty, pretty dumb for me to do [headfirst]. At home, it's just your instincts.
“I'm trying to score. If I want to just run into an out, I just stand up and then let them touch me. And I'm just trying to score. I think at home, we won't see that anymore.”
Manager Mike Shildt is also keeping his fingers crossed that Bogaerts can stay healthy and stay on the field.
“I think we've talked to him about it. He's aware of it,” Shildt said of the sliding techniques. “He’s a 12-year pro, so he knows what he's doing. It's an instinct for him to slide headfirst, [so] making an adjustment because of his shoulder is something that's on the table and I think he's aware of.”