Padres Injury Updates: Miguel Andujar Closing In On Return, Other Reinforcements More Questionable

[Steve Drumwright]

If you took a good look at the lineup the San Diego Padres trotted out for their series finale against the Washington Nationals, you might have felt a little uneasy about the final third. While the top six are lineup stalwarts—Fernando Tatis Jr., Xander Bogaerts, Manny Machado, Ty France, Jackson Merrill and Luis Campusano—the bottom three were definitely not.

In fact, if you had asked any Friars fan on Opening Day whether you thought the Padres were in contention if Austin Hays, Samad Taylor and Jase Bowen were starting on Sept. 9, the answers would have been a resounding "No!"

Here is the Padres lineup for Sept 9. #padres #sandiego #forthefaithful

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— Padres Mission (@padresmission.com) September 9, 2026 at 10:38 AM

But many didn't flinch when the lineup came out before the game. Taylor has been the best of the lot, now slashing .312/.390/.394 after having two more hits in that game. Hays has been serviceable since being picked off the scrap heap, going 10-for-40 in 18 games, including 2-for-2 in the aforementioned Nationals game. Bowen has been the least successful, but his forte is speed and defense, which is why he remains on the roster with a .161/.207/.276 slash line in 69 games. Another player should be added to this conversation and that is outfielder Dustin Harris. He came up from Triple-A El Paso on Aug. 24 has been a lineup regular, going 9-for-28 (.321/.345/.357) in 12 games. He has been released by two other MLB teams this year, the Chicago White Sox and Houston Astros.

These are the players who have helped the Padres at least tread water at their positions while injuries have hit expected key contributors. However, there are some better solutions that will improve the lineup's quality that should make an impact in the final 2½ weeks.

Designated hitter Miguel Andujar, sidelined since July 20 with a fractured right wrist, began a rehab assignment this week at Triple-A El Paso, which means he could return next week when the Padres visit the Colorado Rockies, if not sometime this weekend vs. the San Francisco Giants. With the Padres struggling with offense from the No. 2 spot in the lineup, Andujar would resolve that issue hitting between Tatis and Machado.

While Andujar is a valuable right-handed bat at DH, a left-handed hitter could also be returning soon. That would be Gavin Sheets, who has been battling plantar fasciitis in his left foot for a good spell. He is doing things like tracking pitches during pitchers' bullpen sessions. Whether he is taking swings is not known at the moment, but he would be a big bat off the bench with Ty France firmly entrenched as the Padres' starting first baseman.

One other option for the lineup is left fielder Ramon Laureano. He was seen throwing down in Arizona last weekend. Laureano had right hip surgery and has been out since June 2. His return is much more in doubt.

On the pitching side, right-hander Nick Pivetta has already returned to the starting rotation, while right-hander Joe Musgrove is unlikely to come back in a starting role, with a relief role a slight possibility. However, another right-hander could rejoin the bullpen. That would be Jason Adam, the Padres' primary setup man who has been sidelined since June 30 by a strained right shoulder. Adam threw a 30-pitch bullpen Monday, with a live batting practice Thursday in Arizona before a possible rehab outing Sunday with Triple-A El Paso. Adam could be activated quickly after that depending on how these next two steps go. Right-hander Jeremiah Estrada, who has a right shoulder impingement, hasn't started throwing yet, making his return unlikely.

Hays, Taylor and Bowen have all made noteworthy contributions as the Padres have pulled into NL wild-card contention. The bullpen has also been rock solid and Adam will certainly be a welcome addition with the workload of some of the key arms. If things go well for the Padres from a health perspective, their lineup and pitching staff should get the reinforcements it needs ahead of October.

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