"There was no reason for Song Seong-mun to be sent down," SD manager clarifies directly, so why send him to Triple-A?

*This content was translated by AI.

San Diego Padres infielder Song Seong-mun (30) has been notified of his assignment to the minor leagues. However, Craig Stammen (42), the San Diego manager, stated that there was no reason for Song to be sent down, drawing attention.

The San Diego organization announced on the 25th (Korean time): "We have added outfielder Dustin Harris (27) to the 26th-man roster and optioned Song Seong-mun to Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas. Pitcher Lucas Giolito (31) has been placed on the 60th-day injured list."

This marks his first demotion since being called up to the major leagues 111 days ago. In August, Song played in 12 games, batting just .133 (2 hits in 15 at-bats). His opportunities at the plate were significantly limited, as he was mostly used as a pinch-runner or defensive replacement.

In contrast, Harris has been hitting exceptionally well in Triple-A this season with a .350 average (42 hits in 120 at-bats), six home runs, 26 RBIs, 25 runs scored, and 10 stolen bases. His on-base percentage stands at .422, slugging at .617, and his OPS is an impressive 1.039. Giolito, who had been placed on the injured list due to elbow pain, has not recovered within the expected 60-day window and has now been moved to the long-term injured list.

According to local media outlet 97.3 The Fan, Manager Stammen explained in an interview with reporters: "Harris was hitting well in Triple-A as another left-handed batter. We wanted to see how he would perform at the big league level and give him a chance to play as our team's left fielder."

Song Seong-mun's name naturally came up during the discussion. Stammen stated, "There was no special reason for Song to be sent down," but added, "We simply wanted to give him more playing time to improve his hitting as a left-handed batter."

The decision also considered the recent lack of playing opportunities. Stammen noted, "Our starting infielders are currently active, and with many upcoming rest days, Song likely spent more time on the bench here. We hope that by going to Triple-A, he can get plenty of at-bats, regain his hitting rhythm, and return here soon."

This season, Song has played in 62 major league games, posting a .202 batting average (23 hits in 114 at-bats), one home run, 15 RBIs, 19 runs scored, 12 stolen bases, and an OPS of 0.568. His playing time has noticeably decreased since August. As San Diego has fully entered the National League wild card race, the roles of starting infielders such as Manny Machado, Xander Bogaerts, and Jake Cronenworth have expanded, making it difficult to guarantee Song consistent at-bats.

For San Diego, this move served two purposes: strengthening their relatively thin left-handed outfield resources while providing Song with daily hitting opportunities in the minor leagues due to his limited playing time.

For Song, the challenge now is to maximize his at-bats in Triple-A and regain his hitting form. Given that San Diego views him as a valuable utility infielder and left-handed pinch hitter, regaining his hitting rhythm appears crucial for his return to the major leagues.

Ahead of this season, Song signed a four-year contract worth $15 million (approximately 20.7 billion won) with the San Diego Padres and successfully made it to the major leagues. Although he missed the opening day roster due to a groin injury early in spring training, he made his major league debut on April 27.

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*This content was translated by AI.