Song Sung-moon, 30, of the San Diego Padres in Major League Baseball (MLB), has returned to the big league roster.
The Padres added Song to their 26-man roster ahead of Friday's game against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco, California, set for 10:45 a.m. Korean time on the 6th. In a corresponding move, Jake Cronenworth, who has recently fallen into a batting slump due to lingering effects of a concussion, was placed on the 7-day injured list.
Song had previously been added to the big league roster for the "Mexico City Series" against the Arizona Diamondbacks, held on the 26th of last month in Mexico City, Mexico. The MLB commissioner's office operates a "special addition roster" system that allows teams to carry one extra player beyond the standard 26 for regular-season games held overseas. The system is designed to prepare for situations where a player is suddenly needed.
At the time, Song did not get an at-bat. He made his big league debut as a pinch runner in the game against Arizona on the 27th of last month, and was immediately removed from the roster on the 28th when the Mexico City Series ended.
Song has recently been showing off his batting form with an eight-game hitting streak in Triple-A. MLB.com predicted, "Song is expected to play second base in place of Cronenworth and can also serve as a backup at shortstop and third base."
Song will start as the No. 9 hitter and second baseman, facing off against Lee Jung-hoo of the San Francisco Giants in a "Korean big leaguer derby." Song and Lee are former teammates who played together for the Kiwoom Heroes in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO).
Meanwhile, the Padres called up Japanese left-handed pitcher Yuki Matsui to the big leagues and sent Kyle Hart to Triple-A. Hart posted a 13-3 record with a 2.69 ERA for the NC Dinos in the KBO League in 2024, and recorded a 0-1 record with a 5.40 ERA in 12 games with the Padres this season.
