Padres Star Jake Cronenworth On How He Rebounded From Last Season, Reaction To Luis Arraez Trade And His New Hat
San Diego Padres star Jake Cronenworth has bounced back in a huge way this season.
The two-time All-Star first baseman is off to a great start this season, ranking second on the Padres in home runs (seven) and RBI’s (27) while ranking third in hits (43). Most importantly, he’s batting at efficient levels again this season with a .272 batting average, .343 on-base percentage and .481 slugging percentage.
That’s a huge increase from his surprising decline during the 2023 season. After notching back-to-back All-Star appearances during the 2021 and 2022 seasons, Cronenworth suddenly hit a wall last year, batting just .229/.312/.378 — all career-low numbers. The disappointing season from an individual standpoint also happened to coincide with a position change from second base to first base. To top it all off the Padres missed the playoffs with an 82-80 record just a year after knocking out their rivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers, in the NLDS.
It was the first time in his career Cronenworth had faced adversity during his professional career. The struggles also came during the same year Cronenworth had signed a seven-year, $80 million contract extension through the 2030 season. Although the 30-year-old made a position change before the season, he doesn’t believe his struggles had anything to do with that.
“I don’t think so much it was the position adjustment,” says Cronenworth during a one-on-one exclusive interview. “I think it was just some things I was fighting mechanically and just trying to help the team as much as possible and trying to make things happen. Instead of just letting the game come to you.”
Cronenworth’s season actually ended in August after just 127 games due to a fractured right wrist injury. The fifth-year veteran actually calls the “blessing in disguise” as he had the opportunity to rethink his whole approach entering this season.
