Padres' Mike Shildt Announces Unfortunate News Before MLB Playoffs

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Gavin Groe | Last updated Sep 24, 2025 7:40 PM ET

The San Diego Padres failed to complete the sweep of the league’s best team, the Milwaukee Brewers, on Wednesday, making it unlikely that they host a wild card series. The odds of San Diego catching the Los Angeles Dodgers atop the NL West have also dropped, with the division deficit back up to two games.

Regardless, the Padres have had a successful season that has earned Mike Shildt’s club back-to-back trips to the postseason. After a quiet offseason with concerns over whether the Padres would continue to be one of MLB’s most competitive groups, San Diego proved they were here to stay and capitalized with an eventful trade deadline. Aside from acquiring Mason Miller from the Athletics, general manager A.J. Preller also acquired both Ryan O’Hearn and Ramón Laureano from the Baltimore Orioles to bolster the lineup.

While both have provided much-needed depth to the lineup, Laureano has been a force in the middle of San Diego’s order.

During Wednesday’s 3–1 loss to Milwaukee, Laureano exited the game early in the top of the third inning, with Bryce Johnson taking over in the outfield. After the game, Padres manager Mike Shildt announced an unfortunate update on Laureano’s status.

“Ramón Laureano has a fractured finger in his hand, Mike Shildt says, and will be out at least through the first round,” wrote MLB.com’s AJ Cassavell.

Ramón Laureano has a fractured finger in his hand, Mike Shildt says, and will be out at least through the first round.
— AJ Cassavell (@AJCassavell) September 24, 2025

This is a massive blow to San Diego’s lineup, as Laureano has done exactly what the organization had hoped for and added depth to the team’s star-filled roster. Over 132 games this year with the Orioles and Padres, the 30-year-old veteran has posted a .281 batting average, .342 on-base percentage, .854 OPS, 24 home runs and 76 RBIs.

With Laureano set to miss the wild card series, the Padres will turn to Johnson in the outfield in his place—a clear downgrade in offensive production. Laureano may remain with the Padres in 2026, as the team holds a $6.5 million club option that’s likely to be exercised given his production and overall fit this season.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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