San Diego Padres manager Mike Shildt expressed skepticism about Kim Ha-seong’s chances of returning this season, as reported by MLB.com on Tuesday. Prior to the game against the San Francisco Giants, Shildt indicated that Kim’s physical condition hasn’t met the team’s expectations.
Kim, the Padres’ starting shortstop, injured his right shoulder on August 19 while scrambling back to first base after a hit and a pickoff attempt in a game against the Colorado Rockies. He was diagnosed with shoulder inflammation and placed on the injured list (IL) for the first time since joining MLB in 2021. Initially, his recovery was expected to take around 10 days, but it has been slower than anticipated.
Kim recently rejoined team practices, participating in hitting and throwing drills after undergoing extensive rehabilitation. However, on Sunday, he experienced discomfort in his shoulder again while practicing throws before the game against San Francisco. Shildt stated that Kim’s return is still uncertain, but added that the team fortunately has other players to rely on in the meantime.
