MINNEAPOLIS -- The Padres will be without shortstop Xander Bogaerts as they battle for the National League West title, but they are hopeful he’ll play for them again in 2025.
Bogaerts, who fouled a ball off his left foot on Wednesday in Seattle, was placed on the 10-day injured list on Friday with a non-displaced fracture.
“He’s a tough guy,” manager Mike Shildt said. “It could always be worse, but it could always be better.”
Shildt said he didn’t want to put a timetable on Bogaerts’ recovery but said he was encouraged that the medical team doesn’t think it will be a season-ending injury. That, of course, is open-ended since the Padres’ goal is to play deep into the playoffs.
The regular season ends Sept. 28.
Bogaerts, who turns 33 on Oct. 1, has started 120 games at shortstop and another nine at DH this season. It’s the second straight season a fracture will cost him extended playing time. He was out more than seven weeks last summer because of a left shoulder fracture.
Veteran Jose Iglesias drew the starting assignment at shortstop on Friday, when the Padres began a three-game series against the Twins at Target Field. He figures to get the bulk of playing time at the position.
Infielder Mason McCoy was recalled from Triple-A El Paso to take Bogaerts’ roster spot.
Bogaerts is in the third season of an 11-year, $280 million contract. He got off to a rough start this year, with his OPS sitting at .615 on June 17. He has been productive since, however, posting a slash line of .302/.360/.473 with seven home runs in 60 games. His .302 batting average in that time, in fact, ranked sixth in the NL.
“I [recently] mentioned him swinging the bat really well, and he was playing really, really good shortstop,” Shildt said. “[He’s] a catalyst on the club.”