Padres Shortstop Back in Arizona

PEORIA, Ariz. – San Diego Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts has rejoined the team at the Peoria Sports Complex following his participation in the World Baseball Classic with Team Netherlands. Bogaerts is now focused on preparing for the upcoming Major League Baseball season.

Netherlands’ WBC Journey Ends

Bogaerts appeared in four games for the Netherlands, posting a slash line of .333/.412/.400 while playing every game at shortstop. The Netherlands’ tournament run concluded on Tuesday with a 6-2 loss to Team Israel.

Memorable Moment in Miami

A highlight of Bogaerts’ WBC experience came during the Netherlands’ game against Nicaragua on March 7 at loanDepot park in Miami. Trailing 3-1, the Netherlands rallied in the bottom of the ninth inning. With two strikes against Ceddanne Rafaela, he singled, and Bogaerts followed with a double to left field, setting the stage for a walk-off home run by Ozzie Albies – the first in World Baseball Classic history.

We weren’t doing much that game, I remember. Nicaragua was playing pretty good,” Bogaerts said. I think Rafaela was down to two strikes, so we were missing one more strike … so yeah, that was pretty amazing.”

Facing Padres Teammates in Tournament Play

The World Baseball Classic presented unique matchups, including a contest between Bogaerts and his Padres teammates, Fernando Tatis Jr. And Manny Machado, who led the Dominican Republic to a 12–1 run-rule victory over the Netherlands.

I got to see them a lot, [and] yeah, those guys are on a special run,” Bogaerts said with a smile. It’s not just one guy, it’s like their whole lineup.”

Return to Spring Training

Bogaerts expressed his commitment to the Padres and the long season ahead. “[San Diego] is my organization, and I have to prepare here for the regular season, [which] is obviously very long. But with God’s favor, everything will be well and we will have a successful season.” Padres manager Craig Stammen anticipates a smooth transition back into Spring Training, noting Bogaerts has been consistently playing full nine-inning games.

The plan is for him to be a really good player for the San Diego Padres,” Stammen said. He’s been playing full games for Team Netherlands, so he should be pretty built up. Gain him back at the complex today and then be in the game tomorrow.”

Bogaerts’ Career Stats

Over his 13-year career, Bogaerts has a .287 batting average with 1822 hits and 197 home runs. Through five Spring Training games this year, he is 2-for-12 at the plate.

Looking Ahead

Bogaerts acknowledged the different intensity of Spring Training games, stating, “It’s just something about the games — it’s just harder because you have nothing to be playing for,” but expressed confidence in his preparation. “It’s just a different [type of] adrenaline … but I feel great.”

FAQ

• What team does Xander Bogaerts play for? He plays for the San Diego Padres.
• What country did Xander Bogaerts represent in the World Baseball Classic? He represented the Netherlands.
• What was Bogaerts’ batting average in the WBC? He slashed .333/.412/.400.