SAN FRANCISCO -- Padres second baseman Jake Cronenworth was placed on the seven-day IL Tuesday after experiencing concussion symptoms related to a pitch he took off the jaw in Anaheim last month.
In his place, the Padres recalled infielder Sung-Mun Song -- an obvious like-for-like replacement for Cronenworth on the roster.
Cronenworth -- who was initially cleared by concussion protocol on April 18, the night of the hit-by-pitch -- said he only began experiencing concussion symptoms days afterward. He didn’t realize that’s what they were.
Specifically, the Padres traveled to Denver and Mexico City immediately after the hit-by-pitch, and Cronenworth attributed the headaches and general grogginess to the altitude. He’d never had a concussion before.
“Looking back, the days that I had and the symptoms that I had, I probably should’ve said something a lot earlier,” Cronenworth said Tuesday.
Cronenworth has struggled this season, hitting just .144 with a .468 OPS. He noted that it’s likely those symptoms affected his ability to see the ball well at the plate -- “swinging at the pitches I usually hit, and not hitting them,” he said.
The symptoms, Cronenworth said, were especially pronounced on Monday morning. That’s when he let the Padres’ staff know he wasn’t feeling well. He expressed a desire to play through it, but was evaluated after the game, and the team decided to place him on the IL.
“We felt like this was the best decision for him,” manager Craig Stammen said. “I wish we’d have caught it earlier. But just stemming back from when he got hit on the chin, I think it’s one of those concussions that didn’t present itself right away or the symptoms didn’t present themselves right away, and then it’s kind of just not gone away over the course of time.”
Song was a prized free-agent signing out of Korea during the offseason. San Diego inked the KBO star to a four-year deal in December. But he was slowed by an oblique injury in the offseason and into Spring Training. He began the season on the IL and was later optioned to Triple-A El Paso.
Song’s callup marks his first chance to get a regular look in the big leagues. He debuted as a pinch-runner in Mexico City after he’d been called up to serve as the team’s 27th player. But he was promptly sent back to El Paso.
“He’s going to get the start tonight, and we’ll see how it goes,” Stammen said. “We loved having him in Spring Training. He brought some energy to our team. … The boys consider him a part of this team. He just wasn’t on the team right at the beginning. But we’ve got him now -- an integral part of what we’re trying to do here.”
Lately, Song has begun to hit at Triple-A, riding an eight-game hitting streak. He launched his first home run on Sunday as well. Presumably, Song will slot into Cronenworth’s spot at second base -- and as the team’s backup at short and third. But Cronenworth’s injury might also mean that Fernando Tatis Jr. gets additional looks at second base, particularly against left-handers.
“Definitely a part of our plans,” Stammen said. “We’re not going to stop doing that.”
Song’s arrival also might give Stammen a chance to rest third baseman Manny Machado and shortstop Xander Bogaerts -- or use them at DH. Song’s best position, Stammen said, is third base.
“We have a future Hall of Famer over there at third base,” Stammen noted. “But that guy needs a few days off here and there.”
In a separate move on Tuesday, the Padres activated left-hander Yuki Matsui, who sustained a left groin strain during Spring Training, forcing him to miss the World Baseball Classic and the start of the season. Matsui’s rehab stint had expired, and he was due to be called up Tuesday.
Left-hander Kyle Hart was optioned to Triple-A El Paso in a corresponding move.