San Diego Padres third baseman Luis Rengifo is absolutely done for the season, a brutal ACL and MCL tear confirmed Monday after a totally wild play Saturday against the Tampa Bay Rays. This isn’t just a minor bump in the road; it’s a season-ender for a guy who had turned his year around, and it shakes things up big time for the Padres’ wild card hopes.
The Play That Ended Rengifo’s Season and Crushed Padres’ Hopes
The injury happened during a chaotic seventh inning play in the August 29 game. Rengifo tried to throw home, and just totally collapsed in a heap. It was gnarly; he had to be carted right off the field. Not only did he get hurt, but that play also let the Rays score two more runs, tying the game at 6-6. Tampa Bay then went on to win, 7-6. Talk about a double whammy! It’s a gut punch for Rengifo, who started the year struggling with a .534 OPS in 57 games for the Brewers but then caught fire with the Padres, hitting a scorching .784 OPS in 38 games. He even smacked a grand slam against his old team earlier in August during a Padres sweep. Now, he’s out, and the Padres have lost five of their last six games, sitting just a half-game behind Arizona for that last National League wild-card spot. Every game matters right now, and losing Rengifo for good is a killer.
Willy Adames’ Massive Contract Faces a Dark Cloud
As if that wasn’t enough, former Brewers shortstop Willy Adames might also be done for the year with the San Francisco Giants. The word is he’s got a left elbow strain that needed a platelet-rich plasma injection, putting his season in serious doubt. Remember that monster seven-year, $182 million contract the Giants gave him before the 2025 season? It was their biggest free agent deal ever, and it’s looking pretty rough right now. Adames, who played from 2021-24 in Milwaukee, saw his OPS drop to .740 last year and then down to a career-worst .713 this year if he doesn’t come back. He still mashed 30 homers last year and 21 this year with the Giants, which is impressive, but that elbow strain is a huge problem. Adames, who turns 31 on Wednesday, was known for his durability, playing at least 139 games in all his seasons in Milwaukee. But hey, the Giants came into the week at 56-81, so they’re way out of any playoff picture anyway.
What’s next for the Padres without Rengifo is a huge question mark as they fight for a wild card berth. For Adames and the Giants, it just means finishing out a lost season, but the long-term health of that massive investment is definitely something to keep an eye on.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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