Cronenworth Returns
Padres Activate Jake Cronenworth from Injured List After Concussion Recovery
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The San Diego Padres activated veteran infielder Jake Cronenworth from the injured list on Monday, ending a nearly two-month absence caused by a concussion AP News reported. Cronenworth, who was struck on the jaw by a 96-mph fastball on April 18, slotted into the lineup batting ninth at second base for the series opener against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.
The road back was unusually long. Cronenworth played 12 games after the hit before team doctors diagnosed his concussion on May 5 MLB.com. Manager Craig Stammen said the team "missed him definitely," calling him "Steady Eddie, professional at-bat all the time" AP News.
A Fastball, Three Weeks of Denial, and a Delayed Diagnosis
The injury began April 18 when Angels left-hander Yusei Kikuchi hit Cronenworth on the jaw with a 96-mph fastball Sports Illustrated. Cronenworth cleared initial sideline protocols and stayed in the game. He kept playing — through Denver and Mexico City — while experiencing fogginess and nausea he blamed on altitude sickness 97.3 The Fan.
After 12 more games, Cronenworth finally told team doctors his symptoms had gotten worse. He was placed on the 7-day concussion injured list on May 5. Recovery moved slowly. By June 22 he was facing live pitching at the team's Peoria, Arizona complex Sports Illustrated. He was cleared for a rehab assignment with Triple-A El Paso on June 25 MLB.com.
Cronenworth Hit a Homer in First Rehab At-Bat, Then Came Home
The rehab stint lasted just four days. On June 26, Cronenworth hit a two-run home run in his first at-bat for El Paso against the Sugar Land Space Cowboys MLB.com. He finished 3-for-12 (.250) with one homer and two RBI before the Padres felt comfortable enough to bring him back.
To clear roster space, the Padres placed right-hander David Morgan on the 15-day injured list retroactive to June 28 with left knee inflammation NBC Sports. They also recalled 22-year-old rookie pitcher Bradgley Rodriguez, who carries a 2.10 ERA, from Double-A San Antonio. Rookie infielder Will Wagner, who hit .276 in Cronenworth's absence, was optioned to Triple-A El Paso Sports Illustrated.
A $12 Million Bet on a Player Who Was Struggling Before Getting Hurt
Cronenworth was not playing well before the injury. In 97 at-bats this season, he posted a .144 batting average, .196 slugging percentage, and -0.3 WAR Baseball Reference. He is in year three of a seven-year, $80 million contract and earns $12 million in 2026 Cot's Baseball Contracts. Some analysts argue the Padres are prioritizing a big contract over recent performance Sports Illustrated.
Research from the University of Rochester shows concussed MLB players often hit .234 versus their normal .264 in their first two weeks back Washington Post. The Padres enter July at 43-39, sitting 10 games behind the Dodgers. Their playoff odds sit at roughly 49%, making every roster move count East Village Times.
Why Cronenworth's Slow Recovery Carries a Broader Warning for MLB
Cronenworth's case is a stark example of "warrior culture" in baseball. He played nearly three weeks with concussion symptoms before reporting them. The team's travel to high-altitude cities — Denver and Mexico City — gave him a ready-made excuse 97.3 The Fan. Under the current MLB collective bargaining agreement, players can be placed on a 7-day concussion injured list, but self-reporting remains the weak link in the system.
Cronenworth himself reportedly worried during his recovery whether he would "ever be able to be a major league hitter again," according to manager Stammen AP News. His exit velocity and strikeout rates in early July will be the clearest sign of whether his vision and reflexes have fully returned. The Padres — and their $3.9 billion franchise valuation Forbes — are banking on a full recovery.
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