Song Seong-wun will begin his new season in the US on the Padres' injury list, with the expected absence being brief.

Korean utility player Song Seong-wun of the San Diego Padres will begin the season on the injury list, confirmed by manager Craig Stammen this year. This is not unexpected. Song has been absent from Cactus League games since straining his right oblique early in spring training, but Stammen said the situation might change by Monday. Song played five innings in a Triple-A game today and is expected to appear in the team's final Cactus League game.

“He’s progressing well,” Stammen said. “He will start the season on the injury list. We haven’t had enough opportunities to play him to confidently include him in the opening roster. He’ll go to El Paso for a few rehab games, and it shouldn’t be too long before he returns to Petco Park.”

The Padres signed Song to a four-year contract last December, viewing him as a super utility player for the team. In Korea, he primarily played third base and second base, but the Padres valued his defense and wanted him to practice at shortstop and outfield during spring training. Just as training began, injury struck. On March 5, in his first game playing shortstop, Song hit a 430-foot home run but then left early due to oblique soreness.

It’s worth noting that this injury is not a recurrence of the offseason issue that slowed his progress in the first week of spring training; it seems more like lingering soreness. Therefore, Song only missed about a full week. He practiced defense before resuming batting, and the Padres believe he is now ready to play. Next, Song will travel with the team to San Diego for Opening Day activities, then go to El Paso to start the Triple-A season, where he will get opportunities to practice at various positions. He is expected to return possibly by mid-April.

The Padres do not have a utility player as versatile as Song, at least not one with his level of hitting ability. His absence forces the team to adjust plans. On Sunday, the team informed Ty France that he is on the opening roster. In a sense, France fills Song’s role as a versatile infield backup, though he cannot play shortstop. However, he can cover second base, and Jake Cronenworth can shift to shortstop if needed. This is not the ideal defensive setup, but it serves as an emergency option. Until Song returns, Cronenworth and Xander Bogaerts will primarily handle second base and shortstop.

One of Gavin Sheets, Miguel Andujar, and Nick Castellanos will rotate daily rest, occupying the first bench spot. France takes the second spot, and Luis Campusano will be the backup catcher. One roster spot remains, and Bryce Johnson, due to his ability to cover center field, is the leading candidate to secure it.

Germán Márquez is the top candidate for the final spot in the starting rotation, just as Johnson is for the last bench spot. Thus, the opening rotation will consist of Nick Pivetta, Michael King, Randy Vásquez, Walker Buehler, and Márquez.

Beyond that, only the bullpen remains uncertain. Five spots are set, the sixth likely going to Jason Adam if he has recovered from left quad surgery; the team will decide after his outing in tomorrow’s final Cactus League game. Pitchers still competing for the last two or three bullpen spots include Logan Gillaspie, Kyle Hart, Bradgley Rodriguez, and Ron Marinaccio.