3 Padres Reach out to Opposing Player Who Left Game in Tears

An act of sportsmanship after the game did not go unnoticed by Simon. He told reporters, including Sammy Levitt of 97.3-FM, that Padres Manny Machado, Luis Arraez and Fernando Tatis Jr. texted him words of encouragement.

"A lot of people told me that's going to happen ... in the big leagues," Simon said. "Keep your head up, it doesn't matter what happened in the past. Tomorrow is another day."

The Padres wrap up their three-game series with the Marlins on Wednesday, looking to complete a sweep.

Simon said he previously knew Tatis and Arraez, who began last season with the Marlins. Former Padres infielder Robinson Cano called him, too.

"The only thing I say, 'thank you' for everybody," Simon told reporters.

Naturally, Simon's teammates were there for him too.

"This game is HARD," Marlins infielder Connor Norby wrote on Twitter/X Wednesday. "Nobody cares more than the players. He's a Marlin. Have his back."

Simon, 25, was playing only his 19th major league game. He had committed only one error at second base in his first seven starts at the position before Tuesday.

Simon was slashing .354/.441/.521 at Triple-A Jacksonville before he was promoted. He had comitted only three errors in 95 innings at second base this season with the Marlins' top minor league affiliate.

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In the top of the first inning, Simon drove in one of Miami's six runs against Padres starter Stephen Kolek. The score was 6-2 in the second inning when Tyler Wade hit a ground ball through the right side of the infield that deflected off Simon's glove into foul territory.

When Simon retrieved the baseball and threw wide of home plate, Jake Cronenworth scored too, making it a 6-4 game.

Simon also helped Machado score in the third inning when he could not field Xander Bogaerts' ground ball to second base cleanly, perhaps because Jackson Merrill was running directly in front of him. Machado rounded third base as the ball skipped into the outfield.

That error allowed the Padres to pull within 6-4. Simon's third error, in the fourth inning, left him visibly upset and covering his face. He was replaced by Javier Sanoja at second base in the fifth inning.

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