Padres consider song in outfield

San Diego has landed Month on a four-year, $15 million deal last week. The KBO star is headed for a versatile role with the Padres, which could also include opportunities in the outfield. Song never appeared in the outfield during his time in the KBO, but served as a manager Craig Stamen mentioned the position as a possibility.

“Wherever we can get his bat in the lineup, that’s what we’re going to try to do. And we want to find him a place where he can be productive for the Padres, and there are a lot of different places where I think he fits.Stamen told reporters, among others Jeeho Yoo from Yonhap News.

Song has bounced around the diamond in his career, spending significant time at first base, second base and third base. He’s mostly spent the last few seasons at the hot corner, including 108 starts at the position through 2025. The Padres have clearly done that Manny Machado locked in at third base, although he could spend more time at DH as he enters his age-33 season.

The right side of San Diego’s infield is much less quiet. Luis Arraez is a free agent, who is leaving Jake Cronenworth And Gavin Sheets as candidates for first base. Mason McCoy And Will Wagner are the current options at second base, along with Cronenworth. Song may have the inside track for cornerstone repeats, given the unproven competition.

The Padres’ outfield is set in stone with the trio of Fernando Tatis Jr., Jackson MerrillAnd Ramón Laureanoso it’s interesting that Stammen mentioned Song as an option on the grass. He did refer to the Dodgers and their use of players such as Enrique Hernández, Miguel RojasAnd Tommy Edman as an example of an elite team with movable parts. Song could match those players’ versatile defensive contributions, even if the on-field discussion doesn’t boil down to in-season replays.

Finding ways to get Song’s bat into the lineup makes sense given his recent production in the KBO. The left-hander hit a career-high .340 in 2024, while also posting career-best marks in home runs (19) and stolen bases (21). Song followed it up with a 25/25 campaign with 103 points scored in his career. He has always had good plate discipline, but Song has recently added a new level of power. After four consecutive seasons with a slugging percentage below .375, he has sat above .500 the past two years.

Photo courtesy of Mike Watters, Imagn Images