Ex-Red Sox star Xander Bogaerts will switch positions this season
Bogaerts has started 1,325 games at shortstop versus just 50 at third base.
Xander Bogaerts is switching from shortstop to second base this season, Padres manager Mike Shildt told reporters on Friday.
Ha-Seong Kim, who won a Gold Glove at the utility spot last year, will take over at shortstop for San Diego.
Playing second base will be a new experience for Bogaerts, who has never made a MLB start at the position according to the Associated Press. Bogaerts has started 1,325 games at shortstop versus just 50 at third base.
“I don’t use this word a lot, but my admiration for Xander Bogaerts went through the roof in this transition,” Shildt said.
Kim primarily played second base last year, but also spent time at third base and shortstop. Now he’ll be able to focus full-time on the key infield position.
“I can’t say it’s, like, etched in stone 100 percent,” Shield said. ”We’re going to let him do it, but we’re going to see what it looks like. We’re going to evaluate it. He’s all-in right now to go over, give it his full due.”
After leaving the Red Sox to sign an 11-year, $280 million deal last year, Bogaerts hit .285 with 19 home runs and 58 RBIs.
Last year, The Athletic‘s Ken Rosenthal reported that the Padres asked Bogaerts during contract negotiations if he’d be willing to play a position other than shortstop.
Both sides were able to work out a deal and Bogaerts ended up playing shortstop last year. However, one year into the long-term pact, it appears there has been a change of plans.
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