San Diego Padres star left his most recent game with a shoulder injury after diving back to first on a pickoff attempt.
Kim injured his right shoulder in the top of the third inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field in Denver on Sunday (local time). He led off the inning with a single off starter Bradley Blalock, and with Luis Arraez at the plate, Kim dove safely back to the bag when the right-hander attempted to pick him off.
Following the safe call, Kim quickly motioned for assistance from the dugout and emerged, clutching his right shoulder in apparent distress. He walked off the field under his own power, gripping his shoulder.
The Padres later announced that Kim had jammed his shoulder and will undergo an MRI on Monday to establish the extent of his injury. It was unclear whether Kim would require a spell on the injured list (IL). Kim has never appeared on the IL since joining the Padres in 2021.
“We’re going to have to look at the MRI images tomorrow and see how much damage there is,” Kim told MLB.com via interpreter David Lee. “But I’m just trying to stay optimistic and try to come back as soon as possible.”
Tyler Wade, Kim’s recent shortstop backup, took over on the bases.
This is the final season of Kim’s four-year, $28 million contract with the Padres. The pact includes a $10 million mutual option for 2025. He was expected to decline because he might get more money in a longer agreement on the open market, but the severity of his shoulder injury may change that.
Kim is hitting.233/.330/.370 this season, with 11 home runs, 47 RBIs, and 22 steals in 121 games.
He won the National League Gold Glove at utility last year, becoming the first Asian-born infielder to win the top defensive award after playing second, shortstop, and third base. Kim’s defense has slipped slightly since returning to full-time shortstop this season, according to advanced metrics.
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