Here's why Bogaerts is staying put at second

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SAN DIEGO -- The Padres have a temporary vacancy at shortstop.

They also have a four-time All-Star shortstop on their roster -- a veteran who spent the past 11 seasons playing there, including as the starter in San Diego last year.

So why isn't Xander Bogaerts moving back to his original position, with Ha-Seong Kim sidelined by a right shoulder injury?

That seemed the likeliest solution when Kim landed on the injured list on Tuesday. Bogaerts would slide to short, Jake Cronenworth would take his spot at second and the Padres would suddenly have room for the red-hot Donovan Solano in their starting lineup, whether at first base or DH.

That's not how the Padres are choosing to play it. Tyler Wade, Kim's backup all season, has emerged as the starter. It's possible he platoons with the newly promoted Mason McCoy. Meanwhile, Bogaerts is sticking at second base.

"The context of him staying at second base: We have a guy that's really comfortable, and we established him in a role that he likes to do, that he's been very good at," said Padres manager Mike Shildt. "I don't think it's fair to him or us, in a very short window, to bounce him back over to shortstop and move all our pieces around."

I'd read two things into that:

1. I'd be optimistic that Shildt is calling it "a very short window." That seems to indicate the Padres are confident Kim's absence won't linger beyond his 10-day stint on the IL.

2. Clearly, Shildt doesn't want to mess with a good thing. Because right now, Bogaerts looks as comfortable as he's ever looked in a Padres uniform.

Since his return from the IL in mid-July, Bogaerts has been excellent. His performance has flown slightly under the radar, because almost everyone in the San Diego lineup has been excellent. But Bogaerts entered play Thursday hitting .345 with an .859 OPS since the All-Star break.

In the meantime, Bogaerts' defense at second base has improved markedly. He's been worth four Outs Above Average, according to Statcast -- not bad for a novice at the position.

"Bogey is doing a tremendous job at second base for us," Shildt said. "He's been a real pro in being able to go over there, especially with the short notice. ... He is now a very, very good second baseman, and I think he's very comfortable at it."

If Kim's injury were season-ending, perhaps that would necessitate Bogaerts' full-time move back to shortstop. But the Padres are comfortable covering short for another week-plus with the light-hitting Wade. It's possible the righty-hitting McCoy gets a start or two, with the Mets slated to throw a pair of lefties over the weekend.

In the meantime, Bogaerts says he's gotten comfortable at second since his preseason move. Changing positions on the fly wasn't appealing to him -- not because he isn't open to it, but because he says it's a lot more difficult than it looks.

"It's a little harder for me, playing one position, then moving to another one," Bogaerts said. "This year, I start feeling really good there, and now it's like, move over? But I do know I can play [shortstop]."

In a pinch, the Padres at least have the option. They used it in the ninth inning Tuesday when Solano sparked the game-winning rally with a leadoff single, after batting for Wade in the eighth. Bogaerts then played his first inning at shortstop since April.

For now, however, that's an option the Padres plan to use only sparingly.