The San Diego Padres have encountered a rough start to the 2025 season, with multiple key players sidelined due to injuries. However, none were as concerning as the collision involving Luis Arraez during a high-stakes game against the Houston Astros.

Arraez collided with Astros second baseman Mauricio Dubon while attempting to run out a bunt, an incident that left the Padres’ star player on a stretcher and sent him to a local hospital for further evaluation.

Fortunately, Padres manager Mike Shildt offered an encouraging update on Arraez‘s health. “He’s sore, as you would expect,” Shildt remarked during an appearance on the Starkville Podcast. “But nothing from a CT scan that’s alarming in the cervical area or the jaw line, because he got a little abrasion on his jaw. And cognitively, he’s alert, remembers what’s taken place, is testing positively to this point on anything relative to the concussion side of it.”

Impact on the Padres’ roster

While Arraez continues to recover, the three-time batting champion has been a steady contributor to the Padres’ lineup. This season, he is slashing .287/.330/.425 with three home runs, seven RBIs, and a .755 OPS. The earliest Arraez can return to play is April 29, when the Padres will take on the San Francisco Giants.

 Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 and Manny Machado #13 of the San Diego Padres watch as Luis Arraez #4 of the San Diego Padres is loaded onto a cart after colliding with Mauricio Dubon in the first inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on April 20, 2025 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)

Tatis Jr.’s emotional response to the collision

The collision also took an emotional toll on Fernando Tatis Jr., who was visibly shaken by the incident. “It was just a sad moment, especially getting close to him and seeing him on the ground like that,” Tatis reflected after the game. “You definitely get scared. You almost are going to tears, but just sit down right next to him and you start praying for him right away.”

Additional injury concerns for the Padres

Unfortunately, Arraez is not the only key player sidelined. The Padres have also had to contend with injuries to other important players, including Yu Darvish, Jake Cronenworth, and Jackson Merrill. Despite these setbacks, the team remains in a strong position, holding a 17-8 record and sitting atop the National League West division early in the 2025 MLB season.