Sung-Mun Song -- General News

The San Diego Padres recalled utility player Sung-Mun Song from Triple-A El Paso following Jake Cronenworth's placement on the concussion injured list. Song is expected to serve as a temporary replacement during Cronenworth's recovery period, likely for approximately one week.

Song's early 2026 season performance shows promise, with a .333 batting average over three games with one stolen base and a .833 OPS. His most recent outing on May 5 against San Francisco featured 2-for-4 performance with an RBI and stolen base. However, he went hitless in his subsequent appearance on May 6.

For the 2026 season, fantasy analysts project Song will accumulate 263 at-bats with 32 runs, 63 hits, 6 home runs, and 30 RBIs, posting a .241 batting average and .668 OPS. His draft ADP across six expert rankings averages at #315, with a range from #237 to #357. Song is scheduled to face St. Louis pitching in three consecutive games from May 8-10.

The San Diego Padres signed 29-year-old third baseman Sung-Mun Song to a guaranteed $15 million contract over four seasons following a remarkable two-year turnaround in the KBO League. Song had previously struggled for three consecutive seasons with sub-.700 OPS figures and was contemplating retirement after the 2023 season. His resurgence began with improvements in weight training, nutrition, and work with a hitting coach focused on balance, pull-side power, and handling fastballs—a noted challenge for Korean players transitioning to MLB.

Song's 2024 season with Kiwoom produced 19 home runs, followed by an exceptional 2025 campaign where he batted .315/.387/.530 with 26 home runs, 25 stolen bases, and 37 doubles across 144 games. This productivity encouraged Song to pursue an MLB opportunity, with the Padres signing him shortly before his posting window closed in December. The club envisions Song as a utility player who will see time at multiple infield positions and potentially the outfield, with the possibility of developing into a more prominent role as franchise cornerstone Ha-Seong Kim has done since joining in 2021. Padres president A.J. Preller praised Song's "unique journey" in the KBO and noted his ability to impact games defensively and offensively while demonstrating strike zone control and quality contact.

Sung-Mun Song, a 29-year-old utility man, has been recalled by the San Diego Padres and will make his MLB debut in the 2026 Mexico City Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Song was one of the Padres' major offseason acquisitions, signing a four-year contract in December 2025. However, his season was delayed after suffering a right oblique strain during Spring Training, forcing him to begin the year on the injured list.

Following his recovery, Song played 20 games with Triple-A El Paso, posting a .293 batting average, .369 on-base percentage, and .320 slugging percentage across 84 plate appearances. The Padres have selected him as their 27th man for the two-game Mexico City series, with the first game scheduled for Saturday at 3:05 p.m. PT.

Song brings significant international experience to the lineup. In 2025 with the KBO's Kiwoom Heroes, he compiled 26 home runs, 25 stolen bases, and a .917 OPS while earning the league's Player of the Year award. The previous year, he recorded 19 home runs and 21 steals with a .340 batting average and career-high .927 OPS across 142 games.

Song Sung-mun, a Korean infielder who signed a four-year deal with the San Diego Padres in December 2025, has been optioned back to Triple-A El Paso after his MLB debut. Song appeared in the second game of the Padres' Mexico City Series against Arizona on April 27 as a pinch runner for catcher Luis Campusano but did not bat.

Song was called up as the 27th player allowed for international games, a roster exception that MLB permits. He spent the early 2026 season on the injured list due to an oblique strain before being assigned to the minors for rehabilitation. Prior to his call-up, he had collected six hits in his last three Triple-A games.

In 20 games at Triple-A El Paso, Song compiled a .293 batting average with a .369 on-base percentage and .320 slugging percentage, recording 12 RBIs but no home runs or stolen bases. The demotion reduces the number of Korean players in MLB to two: Lee Jung-hoo of the San Francisco Giants and Kim Hye-seong of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who were both his teammates with the Kiwoom Heroes in the Korean Baseball Organization.

Sung-Mun Song, who signed a four-year contract with the San Diego Padres in December, is being developed as a versatile roster option. An oblique strain early in his tenure slowed his preparation, leading the organization to ease him in at second and third base—positions he played for the Kiwoom Heroes in the Korean Baseball Organization. After a slow start to spring training, Song has recently gained momentum with consecutive hits, noting that his early success has reduced pressure and improved his comfort with teammates.

The Padres' plan involves gradually introducing Song to positions he has limited or no experience with, including shortstop (last played in middle school) and left field (never played competitively). Manager Craig Stammen intends to use Song's developing versatility to provide rest days and DH opportunities for the team's regular starters, including Manny Machado, Jake Cronenworth, Xander Bogaerts, Ramón Laureano, Fernando Tatis Jr., and Jackson Merrill. This approach aligns with Stammen's stated preference for a roster with multiple defensive options and his intention to use the DH spot as a rotating position for regulars.

The San Diego Padres are reportedly calling up Sung-Mun Song for tonight's division matchup against the San Francisco Giants. Song, who signed a four-year, $15 million contract with the Padres this offseason after playing in the Korean Baseball Organization, made his MLB debut during the Mexico City series against Arizona last week as a pinch runner. He was subsequently assigned to Triple-A El Paso to continue his development against MLB-level pitching after recovering from an oblique injury.

In Triple-A, Song compiled a .293/.364/.354 slash line with a .718 OPS across 25 games. However, underlying metrics present concerns—he has generated only four extra-base hits in 29 total hits, indicating limited hard contact and an inability to produce power at the minor-league level. Originally signed as a utility player capable of playing any position except catcher, he will likely serve as the starting second baseman if called up for an extended role.

The call-up will require roster adjustments. Starting second baseman Jake Cronenworth is the likely candidate to be sent to the IL, batting .144/.272/.468 through the early season. While Cronenworth's defense has been solid, his offensive struggles have made him ineffective in the lineup. He was hit by a pitch the previous night, providing potential justification for an IL placement.

The Padres are making this move as part of broader efforts to address their offensive struggles this season. While Song's Triple-A performance suggests he may not immediately provide a significant offensive boost, the organization appears willing to experiment with new personnel in hopes of breaking their slump.