Towards the tip of Xander Bogaerts’ time in Boston there was typically hypothesis he might in the future transfer off shortstop and shift to a distinct place within the infield.
It seems that day has formally come.
San Diego Padres supervisor Mike Shildt introduced Friday that the four-time All-Star will transition from shortstop to second base, permitting Gold Glove winner Ha-Seong Kim to take over the place.
“My admiration for Xander Bogaerts went through the roof in this transition,” Shildt stated. “He’s all in right now to go over and give it it’s full due.”
Bogaerts simply accomplished the primary season of his 11-year, $280 million contract with San Diego, which can pay him roughly $25 million per 12 months via the 2033 season. When Bogaerts left the Red Sox for the Padres he was coming off a career-best season defensively that quieted long-running talks of a transfer off shortstop, however this previous 12 months he regressed again to his historic efficiency ranges, posting a minus-four defensive runs saved mark.
Meanwhile, Kim established himself as one of many premier defensive gamers within the sport. Last 12 months the 28-year-old posted plus-16 DRS throughout three completely different positions, incomes the Gold Glove for NL utility gamers within the course of.
Strictly from a efficiency perspective taking part in Kim at shortstop and Bogaerts at second base is a no brainer, but it surely’s additionally a troublesome capsule to swallow for each Bogaerts, who has typically spoken with satisfaction about taking part in the place, and for San Diego, which made an enormous monetary dedication for him to carry the spot for the following decade.
Yet whereas the transfer might have prompted drama throughout the clubhouse, Shildt stated Bogaerts has dealt with the transition remarkably.
“For him to be a good teammate, to recognize we have an elite defender in Kimmy, who won a Gold Glove, to go back and play (second base), I just admire him,” Shildt stated. “It says a lot about him.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com