Sung-Mun Song's Demotion Has Wide-Reaching Impact On Padres' Bench

[Randy Holt]

Earlier this week, the San Diego Padres optioned Sung-Mun Song to Triple-A El Paso. On the surface, it's not a particularly impactful move; Song had struggled to a wRC+ of just 70 across his first 130-ish plate appearances in Major League Baseball. However, the shift it presents to the dynamics of the roster does indicate some questions about where the team's reserve group stands at this point. 

Aside from Fernando Tatis Jr.'s stint at the keystone during Jake Cronenworth's absence earlier this year, Song had logged the second-most innings at second base this year (28 games). His 16 games at shortstop were also indicative of him serving as the primary backup to Xander Bogaerts at the six. He also saw action a dozen times at third base. In short, Song represented the primary infield backup on this roster. 

With the former KBO MVP now in El Paso, the active roster features the following names on their infield: Bogaerts, Cronenworth, Manny Machado, Ty France, and Gavin Sheets. That's a starter for each position and a backup first baseman (Sheets) that hasn't appeared in a game there since July 24 (and hasn't started one since July 8). Which means that the rest of the current bench is comprised almost entirely of outfielders. 

Of course, such a label is a bit misleading. Technically, each of Luis Rengifo and the newly-added Dustin Harris can touch the infield dirt in a way that wouldn't be unusual. However, that's not the way either has been deployed of late. Rengifo moved to third base in a game against the New York Mets on August 19 and had started there on the 16 Since arriving in San Diego, though, he's only been used on the infield a small handful of times (and most of those were as a late-inning replacement following a pinch-hit appearance). That trend comes despite getting regular work at third base when he was with Milwaukee earlier this year. Harris, meanwhile, has a history of corner infield play during his time in the minor leagues but has only appeared on the grass while at the top level. 

So, while the Padres technically do have flexibility there on paper, it appears that they're not particularly inclined to throw either in an infield spot. Which means that those two, along with Austin Hays and Jase Bowen, are part of a bench comprised almost exclusively of outfielders (along with backup catcher Luis Campusano). 

It certainly doesn't lend itself to much flexibility. Sure, there's the possibility that Rengifo could begin to get more infield work. Tatis could always jump back to second base on an as-needed basis, with Cronenworth flipping over to short in a scenario where Xander Bogaerts needed a day off. Miguel Andujar has started a swinging progression and could join as a corner infield option, even as one with certain defensive shortcomings. Gage Workman was acquired from Detroit at the deadline and could represent a flexible option as a recall, albeit one with an astronomical strikeout rate.

Still, none of this is ideal. The general goal with the bench in its current state is to get supplementary offense as needed, but it could really hamper the team from a defensive standpoint. It also means that the team is going to rely heavily on the health of their regulars in the stretch run. That's hardly a given considering that each of Cronenworth & Bogaerts have had various injury issues over the last couple of seasons, and keeping Machado fresh late in the year has proven to be an annual struggle.

Whether or not this actually manifests as a problem for the Padres isn't something we'll actually know until we see it. On paper, their starters across the infield would be expected to log about as much time as any starter on any roster anyway. More than anything, the shift here in sending Song to El Paso results in a loss of flexibility. There are pathways to getting it back with the current group, but none of them are defensively ideal or feature a decent volume of recent positional experience.

Ultimately, though, it's difficult to be too concerned about it yet. The highest upside bats are still on the roster from a bench standpoint, and that's where they're most crucial for the Padres. Should any of the infield regulars run into trouble of any sort, however, it'll be interesting to see how the team pivots with no one on the bench equipped to take over on a full-time basis.

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