The Padres are navigating a rough patch and now face a significant setback in their outfield lineup.
On Friday, Manager Craig Stammen announced that Ramon Laureano might be out for the remainder of the season following surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right hip.
Laureano has dealt with hip issues over the past five seasons, often managing to play despite the discomfort.
However, during the Padres’ recent series in Washington, Laureano reported a worsening of his condition and subsequently decided to undergo surgery on Friday.
His struggles at the plate this season appear to be linked to the ongoing hip problem.
In mid-April, he was batting .292 with a .921 OPS. When placed on the injured list on Tuesday, his numbers had dipped significantly to a .203 average with a .660 OPS.
Should San Diego make a deep playoff run, it’s possible we haven’t seen the last of Laureano this season.
Stammen stated that the typical timeline for return is “that four-to-five month range.”
For the Padres to really make an impact this year, it is critical that their superstars make up for Laureano’s absence. Manny Machado, Jackson Merrill and Fernando Tatis Jr. have all underperformed thus far this season, though they’ve looked better lately.
Entering Friday, the Padres have scored the fewest runs in the major leagues.
They’ve lost nine of their last 10 entering the weekend series with the Mets, and their loss in Philadelphia on Thursday took them out of the playoff picture for the first time since April.