song sung mun is back on the Padres' major league roster after the club placed Jake Cronenworth on the seven-day concussion-related injured list and recalled the infielder. The move gives San Diego another option in the middle infield while Cronenworth is unavailable.
San Diego’s Middle Infield Shift
Cronenworth’s absence leaves a hole the Padres have been trying to cover all season. He had been hitting.144/.272/.196 before landing on the seven-day concussion-related injured list, and the club has not released details on how he sustained the injury or how long he is expected to be sidelined.
The roster move also brings Yuki Matsui back from the 15-day injured list and sends Kyle Hart out, but the headline change is Song’s return. San Diego has used Cronenworth as the backup to Xander Bogaerts while Fernando Tatis Jr. has handled the backup role behind Cronenworth, so the infield depth chart has already been thin when injuries hit.
Song’s Long Road Back
Song signed with the Padres this offseason to a four-year, $15MM deal after hitting.327/.397/.524 over 2024 and 2025 with the Kiwoom Heroes. He opened the year on the injured list because of an oblique issue in January, then went to the minors in mid-April after a rehab assignment.
His North American track record has been brief. Song made his major league debut in Mexico City when he pinch ran for Luis Campusano in the top of the eighth inning and was replaced by Freddy Fermin in the bottom of the frame.
At Triple-A, Song has posted a.293/.364/.354 line this season. He left El Paso on an eight-game hitting streak, batting.351/.400/.459 during that run, and has been splitting time between shortstop, second base and third base.
Padres Turn to Song
The recall gives Song his first real stretch on the major league roster and tests whether his production in South Korea and at Triple-A can carry over now that the Padres need help at the infield level. San Diego has a spot to fill, and this move puts Song in position to claim it if he produces while Cronenworth is out.
