San Diego Padres Star To Undergo Season-Ending Surgery

It's a brutal blow for the San Diego Padres heading into the MLB postseason, as they've learned that their shortstop-extraordinaire Ha-Seong Kim has now been shut down for the season and will undergo shoulder surgery.

The Padres are shutting down Ha-Seong Kim, Mike Shildt says. Kim has been dealing with a shoulder injury he sustained in mid-August.
— AJ Cassavell (@AJCassavell) September 28, 2024

Kim has been out for over a month with the injury, but was hoping to return in time for the playoffs. However, a “small tear” in the labrum in his right shoulder will end his season for good—and possibly spell the end of his time in San Diego. Kim is a pending free agent after the season.

It was Kim himself who announced that he'll have to have surgery on the shoulder.

“I played in a rehab game. But the pain came back, so after many conversations, we decided to find out what the next step is and that’s how we came to decide on surgery.

"I really tried everything to come back and help the team," Kim added. "But my body just wouldn't listen to my mind. So I think as of now, my season is over. It's really frustrating and disappointing, because we have a legitimate chance in the postseason, and I could have been part of it.”

It's a huge hole for the Padres to deal with, as Kim is a Gold Glove fielder at short, and has also improved his offense in leaps and bounds over the past few seasons.

San Diego has had a tremendous renaissance season with 93 wins, and are locked in as the top Wild Card seed. But they'll have to find a way to get through the postseason without a key piece.