It sure seemed like Xander Bogaerts moving to second base was going to be a long-term thing. The Padres went to him at the beginning of Spring Training to deliver the news with Ha-Seong Kim being the starting shortstop.
Did Bogaerts want to move over? Highly doubt it. But that’s what was best for the team on paper defensively.
Fast forward about seven months and Bogaerts could be making another move that’s best for the team: back to shortstop.
Kim has been out since August 18 with a shoulder injury and he’s “not close to returning”, according to Kevin Acee, who follows this team essentially every day.