Former Red Sox Star Injured: Will Xander Bogaerts Return For Stretch Run, Playoffs?

These are not the best of times for former Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts. That’s because the four-time All-Star’s regular season could be over.

“The Padres sustained a huge blow when veteran shortstop Xander Bogaerts broke a bone in his left foot when fouling off a pitch, but the Padres believe he be back just before the postseason,” USA Today’s Bob Nightengale wrote Sunday. “Bogaerts, who had played in all but three games, was hitting .303 with an .835 OPS since June 19.

“The plan is for reserve infielder Jose Iglesias to take over the everyday job until Bogaerts returns, with Jake Cronenworth occasionally sliding to short. They insist there is no plan to move former shortstops Fernando Tatis Jr. or Jackson Merrill from outfield to shortstop,” Nightengale added.

“(Bogaerts is) a tough guy,” Padres manager Mike Shildt said, according to MLB.com’s Patrick Donnelly. “It could always be worse, but it could always be better.”

“I [recently] mentioned him swinging the bat really well, and he was playing really, really good shortstop. [He’s] a catalyst on the club,” Shildt added.

It’s the second straight year Bogaerts, 32, landed on the injured list with a broken bone. He missed seven weeks last summer with a fractured left shoulder.

The five-time Silver Slugger Award winner is in the third year of his 11-year, $280 million contract with the San Diego Padres. He’s hitting .262 this season with 10 home runs, 49 RBIs and 20 stolen bases in 131 games.

Prior to bolting for the West Coast, Bogaerts spent 10 seasons in Boston, helping the Red Sox win a pair of World Series titles.

He’s hoping to add a ring this fall with the Padres in contention for the National League pennant.

San Diego enters play Tuesday just two-and-a-half games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West. The Padres are three games behind the Chicago Cubs in the NL Wild Card standings.