(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The San Diego Padres are a team with plenty of talent on their roster, and one that just got a little bit better thanks to the return of Fernando Tatis Jr.
However, Tatis isn’t playing in his usual shortstop position.
That spot now belongs to the newly signed Xander Bogaerts.
San Diego inked Bogaerts on an 11-year, $280 million contract last December.
And so far, their new star has posted some pretty good numbers at the plate.
On Twitter, MLB Network posted a graphic featuring some of the veteran slugger’s stats and where he ranks in Major League Baseball among qualified shortstops.
The Xander Bogaerts era is off to a scorching start in SD @Padres | #BringTheGold pic.twitter.com/dc3nsCyxaP
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) April 21, 2023
Bogaerts is third in batting average among shortstops, having posted a .350 mark.
He is tied for third on the list with 12 RBI, is second in OPS with a .993 mark, and is at the top of the list in home runs.
The two-time World Series champion has homered five times to start to the new season.
Needless to say, the Padres made a smart move when they signed Bogaerts.
He brings a little extra power to an already stacked lineup.
And next to stars such as Juan Soto, Manny Machado, Jake Cronenworth, and Tatis, Bogaerts makes the lineup even stronger and puts them up near the top with the best lineups in all of baseball.
For his career, Bogaerts owns a .293 batting average, has hit a total of 161 home runs, has driven in 695 runs, stolen 75 bases, and has an OPS of .817.
Bogaerts hit .307 last year in what proved to be his final season with the Boston Red Sox.
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