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Padres' Xander Bogaerts Announces Update as MLB Playoffs Near

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Gavin Groe | Last updated Sep 8, 2025 8:16 PM ET

The San Diego Padres (78–65) are looking to dethrone the Los Angeles Dodgers and capture the NL West crown, entering Monday with just a one-game deficit in the division.

The Padres offense, however, has struggled recently due to the unavailability of shortstop Xander Bogaerts, who fractured his left foot in late August in a game against the Seattle Mariners.

The 32-year-old veteran has not quite lived up to the expectations of his 11-year, $280 million deal signed back in December 2022 during his first three seasons in San Diego.

However, Bogaerts had begun to look better in the second half before his injury, posting a .254 batting average, .297 on-base percentage, .726 OPS, five home runs and 18 RBIs across 37 games.

Xander Bogaerts Injury Update

Ahead of the Padres’ series opener on Monday against the Cincinnati Reds, Bogaerts was available in the clubhouse and, for the first time since suffering the injury, was not in a walking boot.

Bogaerts announced that he is still waiting for doctor’s clearance before running or participating in baseball activities but remains optimistic that a regular season return remains a possibility.

"Xander Bogaerts was in clubhouse today without a walking boot. He said he is walking fine, but no running or anything like that yet. He's dependent on doing imaging each week and waiting for doctor clearance. Still optimistic he'll be back before end of regular season," wrote Annie Heilbrunn of the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Xander Bogaerts was in clubhouse today without a walking boot. He said he is walking fine, but no running or anything like that yet. He's dependent on doing imaging each week and waiting for doctor clearance. Still optimistic he'll be back before end of regular season. #Padres
— Annie Heilbrunn (@annieheilbrunn) September 8, 2025

This is a positive development for the Padres, as manager Mike Shildt has had to make lineup adjustments in Bogaerts’ absence, such as moving Jake Cronenworth to shortstop on Sunday.

The reasoning behind Shildt’s move is the fact that veteran Jose Iglesias has severely struggled at the plate and has not been a serviceable option. But this deep into the season, there is no solution for a replacement.

Iglesias is batting .227 with a .569 OPS and just one home run in 101 games. And although he isn’t expected to replicate Bogaerts’ numbers, a bat that weak heading into October is a clear hole in the lineup.

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

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