The San Diego Padres are heading into Baltimore for a three-game set, and they’ve finally made a move that fans have been calling for. Xander Bogaerts is back from the paternity list, which forced the team to make a tough decision on the roster — and it came at the expense of outfielder Bryce Johnson, who was designated for assignment.
Johnson’s time with the Padres felt like a slow-motion car crash for a team starving for offense. He hit just .178 with a .451 OPS and only two RBIs, serving primarily as a bench piece. For a club that already owns the worst offense in baseball, carrying a glove-first player who wasn’t producing at the plate was a luxury San Diego could no longer afford. The timing of Bogaerts’ return made the decision easy.
Why Johnson’s Exit Was Inevitable
Johnson was always a defensive specialist, but on this Padres team, that profile was a major mismatch. The lineup has been anemic, ranking dead last in runs scored through the first chunk of the season. Keeping a guy with a sub-.200 batting average as a primary bench option wasn’t going to move the needle. According to reports, the team believes Samad Taylor and Jase Bowen — both of whom have flashed in their brief big-league stints — offer more upside, even if their sample sizes are small.
The hope for Johnson now is that another club claims him off waivers. If not, he could clear and end up back in the Padres’ minor-league system. But San Diego clearly needed a shakeup.
Bogaerts Isn’t Out of the Woods Yet
Let’s be real: Bogaerts hasn’t looked like the star the Padres paid for. His 2025 numbers are underwhelming, but there’s a sliver of optimism. He picked up his pace as summer began, and if he can rediscover that rhythm, it could give the lineup a much-needed jolt. The Padres are banking on him, Manny Machado, and Jackson Merrill to turn things around and start producing like their reputations suggest they can.
The one bright spot? Fernando Tatis Jr. is back to being a problem for opposing pitchers. Despite only two home runs this season, he’s become one of the hottest hitters in the league, consistently getting on base and driving the ball. If Bogaerts can complement Tatis and Machado, the Padres might finally start climbing out of the offensive hole they’ve dug.
Wednesday’s series opener at Camden Yards features a compelling pitching matchup. Griffin Canning, still searching for consistency in the Padres’ rotation, will face off against Shane Baz, who has been on a tear recently. First pitch is at 7:05 ET.
A Must-Win Stretch
San Diego desperately needs to stack wins. They’re not out of the playoff picture, but they can’t afford to keep spinning their wheels. Baltimore is a good team, but the Padres have an opportunity to steal a series and build some momentum. Bogaerts returning is a step in the right direction — but it’s going to take more than one roster move to fix what’s broken.
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