The San Diego Padres may finally be getting a glimpse of the player they hoped for when they handed Xander Bogaerts an 11-year, $280 million deal. After a sluggish and injury-plagued start to the 2025 season, Bogaerts is starting to hit his stride—both literally and figuratively.
The veteran shortstop, long known for his durability and quiet leadership, has been dealing with a nagging shoulder injury that required a cortisone shot earlier this year. True to form, Bogaerts didn’t complain. He kept suiting up, just as he always has since his days in Boston, where manager Alex Cora occasionally had to force him out of the lineup to give him rest.
However, the numbers are now finally catching up with the effort.
A Promising Turnaround
In his last 90 plate appearances, Bogaerts is slashing .317/.367/.488 with an .854 OPS. It’s a sharp contrast to the mid-.600s OPS he posted through much of the early season. A welcome sight for Padres fans who had grown frustrated by his underwhelming start. With just five home runs and 30 RBI on the year so far, Bogaerts hasn’t matched the offensive production of his prime—but lately, the swing is quicker, the contact is harder, and the confidence is growing.
“I really believe [he’s found something],” Padres manager Mike Shildt told CBS Sports. “Three weeks ago, we started seeing more consistency in Xander’s bat speed and exit velocity. We just weren’t seeing results. I’m so glad that he didn’t get discouraged.”
Battling Through the Pain
That shoulder injury—the same one he fractured in 2024 diving for a ball—limited him to just 111 games last season. This year, the team has managed it more carefully, but it still lingers in the background.
“The shoulder is getting better,” Bogaerts said this week. “I can’t be really diving that much on the field — for now. That’s how it gets aggravated. At least we’re kind of aware of where that comes from.”
Despite the limitations, Bogaerts has played through it. As the pain subsides, the results have begun to follow.
The Mindset of a Champion
What makes Bogaerts’ resurgence more than just a hot streak is the mindset behind it. At 32, with two World Series rings and over a decade in the league, he’s watched the game quickly humble even its biggest stars.
In San Diego, the expectations may not be as harsh as Boston’s, but the pressure to perform on a star-studded roster still looms large. Bogaerts, though, remains unfazed, focused on winning, mentoring, and bringing the consistency that’s defined his career.
The Padres Need Him
With San Diego battling to stay in the thick of the NL playoff race, Bogaerts’ bounce-back couldn’t come at a better time. The Padres haven’t seen the full payoff from their financial commitment just yet, but they know what they have in Bogaerts: a leader, a professional, and a proven winner.
“It’s a wonderful trait,” Shildt said. “That’s why this guy’s been a winning player and been on two World Series-winning clubs.”
If his recent stretch is any indication, Bogaerts is far from done. But, the Padres might get the version of Xander they’ve been waiting for.
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