Xander Bogaerts impending return will push unheralded Padres player to bench

All signs point to San Diego Padres second baseman Xander Bogaerts returning to the lineup before the All-Star break. This is welcome news for a Padres team that has lost three straight games heading into Wednesday and has the New York Mets breathing down their neck.

San Diego is just 1.5 games up in the Wild Card standings on New York There are five other teams in the hunt as well that are fewer than three games back in the loss column. While it's been poor pitching of late that's derailed the Friars, getting Bogaerts' bat back in the lineup will definitely be a plus.

But San Diego has received tremendous production from almost all their infielders in Bogaerts' absence. Bogaerts' massive 11-year deal he signed before 2023 all but guarantees he'll be a regular in Mike Shildt's lineup, regardless of who else is performing. That likely spells trouble for Padres' midseason pickup Donovan Solano.

Donovan Solano will lose playing time once Xander Bogaerts returns to the Padres lineup

Solano, much like Jurickson Profar, has been a tremendous pickup on the part of Padres President of Baseball Operations AJ Preller. Solano has always been a great contact hitter, and yet, the veteran was just sitting on the free agent market for what seemed like forever. Solano signed a minor-league deal in April and was called up to the big leagues in early May.

Since his arrival to San Diego, Donnie Barrels has lived up to his nickname. The 36-year-old is hitting .287/.347/.401. Solano is a consistent hitter who always gives opposing pitchers fits in the batter's box.

But with Bogaerts heading back to second base upon his return and Jake Cronenworth being moved back to first base, Solano's opportunities will surely shrink. Ha-Seong Kim will continue to start and shortstop and Manny Machado will be manning the hot corner. Luis Arráez will pull DH duties and likely see time in the field when Bogaerts or Cronenworth need a day off.

While obviously not ideal for Solano, it's the reality of the situation. By no means will Shildt completely remove the veteran infielder from his lineup card, but Solano will no longer be an everyday player for the Friars once Bogaerts is back.

Depth is something that every team craves, and keeping Solano around as a bench bat is a luxury to be sure. Bogaerts impending return from the IL is good news for everybody in San Diego, except one.

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