Padres’ Sung-Mun Song Battling Oblique Strain Ahead of Spring Training
San Diego Padres infielder Sung-Mun Song is heading to Arizona a bit earlier than expected-but not to get a jump on field work. Instead, he’ll be starting his spring with medical care and rehab after suffering an oblique strain during a recent batting practice session.
The injury, reported by Yonhap News, occurred while Song was training in Japan. After receiving treatment at a local clinic, he’s now en route to join the Padres’ medical staff in Arizona for further evaluation and recovery. The early timeline points to a minimum of four weeks before he can resume baseball activities.
That puts Song in a race against the calendar. Padres pitchers and catchers are set to report for physicals on February 10, with their first official workout a day later.
Position players begin workouts on February 15, though many will arrive earlier to get a head start. If Song’s recovery stays on schedule, he could still be on the field when Spring Training officially kicks off-but he may be moving at a slower pace than his teammates.
Song signed a four-year, $15 million deal with San Diego last month, then returned to South Korea to continue his offseason prep. He had been slated to join the Korean national team for the upcoming World Baseball Classic, but this injury likely changes those plans. Staying in Arizona to rehab and integrate with the Padres’ staff now becomes the priority.
Oblique injuries can be tricky. They vary in severity and don’t always follow a predictable recovery path.
For some context, Fernando Tatis Jr. dealt with a mild oblique issue-he described it as more of a cramp-during the 2025 All-Star break. It was enough to keep him out of the Home Run Derby, but not enough to land him on the injured list.
That’s the best-case scenario when it comes to this type of injury.
On the flip side, pitcher Matt Waldron suffered a mild oblique strain during Spring Training last year. He ended up missing significant time and struggled to regain form after returning. Waldron was eventually optioned to Triple-A El Paso and didn’t make it back to the big-league roster.
So where does that leave Song? At this point, it’s too early to tell whether this is just a minor hiccup or something that could delay his start to the 2026 season.
If the rehab stays on track, he might still be able to ramp up in time for Opening Day. But if there’s any setback-or if the Padres decide to take a more cautious approach-it could impact his availability early in the season.
The good news? Song’s already in Arizona and will be working closely with the Padres’ training and medical staff.
That kind of early attention and structure could go a long way in getting him back to full strength. With FanFest scheduled for January 31, we may get a clearer picture of his status soon.
For now, the Padres will be keeping a close eye on their new infielder’s progress. And so will everyone else hoping to see what Song can bring to the table in his first MLB season.