Bogaerts an option at shortstop with Kim still sidelined

SAN DIEGO -- The Padres’ shortstop situation is in flux after manager Mike Shildt revealed on Sunday that Ha-Seong Kim is “not as close as we’d like” to making his return from right-shoulder inflammation.

The news could prompt a shakeup in the Padres’ infield, with longtime shortstop Xander Bogaerts -- who moved to second base this year -- potentially headed back to his former position.

Kim sustained the injury three weeks ago in Colorado while diving back into first base. The Padres were initially optimistic that he would return after the minimum 10-day stint on the injured list. But as Kim has attempted to ramp up his throwing, he has continued to feel discomfort in that shoulder.

“Yesterday was not necessarily a setback,” Shildt said after the Padres’ 7-6 loss to the Giants on Sunday afternoon at Petco Park. “It just wasn’t a move forward. So we’re still in the evaluation process.”

During pregame drills on Saturday, Kim took ground balls at shortstop and attempted to ramp up his throws across the diamond. He’s yet to do so at 100% effort -- and was again unable to truly let loose while throwing. It’s unclear where that leaves Kim, in terms of a potential return this season. But for now, the Padres are mapping out contingencies.

Rookie Mason McCoy has assumed the starting shortstop role in Kim’s absence. But the Padres devised that plan as a temporary solution when Kim’s return was expected to come sooner. McCoy is solid defensively. But he’s hitting just .204 with a .523 OPS.

Enter Bogaerts. He has settled in nicely at second -- and has expressed a preference to remain there. But the Padres might need him at short. That would allow Jake Cronenworth to slide from first to second and Luis Arraez from DH to first, freeing up the DH spot for a potential David Peralta/Donovan Solano platoon. Solano could play first, as well.

“Everything’s pretty fluid right now,” Shildt said. “But the good thing is we’ve got options.”

On Sunday afternoon, Shildt deployed the likeliest of those options. With the Padres trailing by five runs, Solano batted for McCoy in the bottom of the fifth inning. Instead of inserting utility man Tyler Wade at short -- as they’ve done before -- the Padres shifted Bogaerts to short and Cronenworth to second, which allowed them to keep Solano’s bat in the lineup. They made a ferocious comeback but came up a run short.

After the game, Bogaerts seemed to reiterate his hesitancy in moving back to shortstop. But he also understood the potential need for it.

“Obviously, it sucks pretty much that Solano is out of the lineup,” Bogaerts said. “He’s still having an awesome year, but he was having an even better one until he stopped playing every day. So I don’t know, man.

“I did have some talks. It really sucks for Solano, not being able to play every day and us knowing what a quality at-bat he gives you every at-bat pretty much. So if we can get him in there, it would be nice.”