Apr 20, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA;San Diego Padres first base coach David Macias (46) and Houston Astros second baseman Mauricio Dubon (14) check on San Diego Padres designated hitter Luis Arraez (4) as he lies on the field after colliding with Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker (8) (not pictured )on the first base line in the first inning at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images
San Diego, California – The San Diego Padres will be without one of their hottest bats for at least the next week, as All-Star infielder Luis Arraez was placed on the seven-day concussion injured list Monday following a frightening on-field collision.
Arraez was injured in the first inning of Sunday’s 3–2 win over the Houston Astros after colliding with Astros infielder Mauricio Dubón. The three-time batting champion remained on the field and was eventually taken off on a stretcher before being transported to a Houston-area hospital for evaluation.
Fortunately for the Padres and Arraez, early results were encouraging.
“At the moment, it’s kind of the best-case scenario,” Padres manager Mike Shildt said Monday. “He’s sore today, as you would expect, but nothing structurally. He did have a little cut on his jaw, but nothing cervically is showing up with any real concern.”
Shildt added that Arraez is experiencing some neck stiffness but showed no major cognitive issues. He’ll likely undergo further testing this week in San Diego.
“It’s too early to tell exactly when baseball activity will take place,” said Shildt. “We’ll get through the testing and make sure cognitively he’s OK, has range of motion, and then we’ll go from there.”
The Padres recalled infielder Mason McCoy from Triple-A El Paso to fill the roster spot in the interim.
Arraez, acquired in a high-profile offseason deal, has been a key contributor to San Diego’s early success. After a slow start—just one hit in his first five games—he surged in April, batting .348 with three home runs, already matching nearly half his total from the 2024 season.
His absence is yet another blow for a Padres team that’s been hit hard by injuries but has continued to thrive, boasting the best record in Major League Baseball through 22 games. Arraez joins a growing list of sidelined Padres, including Jackson Merrill, Jake Cronenworth, Yu Darvish, Jason Heyward, and Brandon Lockridge.
While the team is hopeful Arraez can return as soon as April 28, concussion recovery timelines can be unpredictable. San Diego will have to keep finding ways to win without one of its top hitters.
