San Diego Padres Release Outfielder Alex Verdugo

May 13, 2026, 03:32
USSports

Introduction

The San Diego Padres have released outfielder Alex Verdugo after he suffered a shoulder injury that will end his season.

Main Body

Verdugo's time with the San Diego Padres ended shortly after he signed a minor league contract in March. Despite this agreement, he never actually played a game for the team's affiliates. According to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune, the team had to release him because he needs shoulder surgery, which means he cannot play for the rest of the year. This is the second time in a row that Verdugo has been released by a professional team, following his departure from the Atlanta Braves last July. During his time with the Braves, he had a .239 batting average and 12 runs batted in over 56 games. Earlier in his career, Verdugo spent four years with the Boston Red Sox, where he hit 43 home runs, and he also played for the New York Yankees after being traded from Los Angeles. From a team perspective, the Padres believe they have enough players to cover his absence, specifically mentioning Nick Castellanos and Bryce Johnson. Furthermore, because the team is currently tied for the lead in the National League West with the Los Angeles Dodgers, they expect this change to have very little impact on their overall performance.

Conclusion

Alex Verdugo is now a free agent and is expected to have surgery to repair his shoulder.

Learning

⚡ The 'Connecting' Leap: Moving from Simple to Complex

At the A2 level, you likely write sentences like: "The team released him. He had an injury." To reach B2, you must stop using 'full stops' and start using Logical Bridges.

🌉 The Bridge: "Despite" vs. "Because"

Look at this sentence from the text:

*"Despite this agreement, he never actually played a game..."

The B2 Secret: A2 students use "But". B2 students use "Despite".

  • A2: He had a contract, but he didn't play.
  • B2: Despite having a contract, he didn't play.

Rule: Use Despite + [Noun/Gerund] to show a surprising contrast. It makes your English sound more professional and fluid.

🛠ī¸ Advanced Causal Links

Instead of just saying "so," the article uses:

  • "...which means..." →\rightarrow Used to explain the direct result of a situation ("He needs surgery, which means he cannot play").
  • "Furthermore..." →\rightarrow Used to add a second, stronger point to an argument.

🚀 Vocabulary Upgrade: The 'Professional' Shift

Stop using basic verbs. Notice how the text replaces "left" or "went" with more precise B2-level terms:

A2 Word (Basic)B2 Word (Precise)Context from Article
LeavingDeparture"...following his departure from the Atlanta Braves"
Gap/MissingAbsence"...to cover his absence"
EffectImpact"...very little impact on their performance"

Pro Tip: To hit B2, start turning your verbs into nouns (e.g., leave →\rightarrow departure). This is called 'nominalization' and it is the fastest way to sound academic.

Vocabulary Learning

released (v.)
to formally terminate a contract or position
Example:The team released the player after the season.
suffered (v.)
to experience pain or distress
Example:He suffered a shoulder injury during the game.
injury (n.)
an instance of physical harm or damage
Example:The injury prevented him from playing.
contract (n.)
a written agreement between parties
Example:She signed a contract with the club.
affiliates (n.)
teams or organizations related to a main team
Example:The player never appeared for the affiliates.
surgery (n.)
a medical operation to treat injury
Example:He will undergo surgery to fix the shoulder.
average (n.)
a typical value or mean
Example:His batting average was .239.
career (n.)
the course of one's professional life
Example:In his career, he played for several teams.
home run (n.)
a baseball hit that allows the batter to circle all bases
Example:He hit 43 home runs last season.
tied (adj.)
having the same score or position
Example:They were tied for the lead in the standings.
lead (n.)
the position at the front of a group or competition
Example:They are fighting for the lead in the league.
impact (n.)
the effect or influence of something
Example:The change had little impact on the team's performance.
overall (adj.)
considering everything
Example:The overall performance was strong.
performance (n.)
the act of performing or achieving results
Example:The team's performance improved.
free agent (n.)
a player not under contract with any team
Example:He is now a free agent after being released.
repair (v.)
to fix or mend something
Example:The surgery will repair the damaged shoulder.