Padres Manager Mike Shildt Wants to Make Sure Jake Cronenworth is Getting Love

San Diego Padres manager Mike Shildt wants to give some credit to infielder Jake Cronenworth. Cronenworth's season got off to a slightly shaky start when a ball went through his glove, allowing the Los Angeles Dodgers to get the go-ahead score and win the first game of the 2024 regular season in Seoul, South Korea.

Since that mishap, Cronenworth has been rock solid for the Padres, helping them make key offensive and defensive plays. After a disappointing 2023 campaign, Cronenworth appears to be turning the corner, and hopefully returning to his All-Star form in 2021 and 2022.

Shildt shouted out Cronenworth's efforts after the Padres 3-2 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday.

“Let’s spend some time and give Crone Zone some love right now,” Shildt said, via Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune. “He’s played his tail off defensively. He’s in the middle of everything we’ve done this year. He’s taken as many good quality at-bats as anybody, and that’s saying something because we’ve got a lot of guys taking good at-bats. I mean, he’s making loud outs, he’s hitting balls all over the yard. He’s making plays all over the place defensively. Every night I come in I got a plus defensive play or three. So another nice play by Jake. But let’s appreciate the body of work that Jake Cronenworth has given us and not overlook it.”

Along with his defensive efforts, Cronenworth has produced for the Padres lineup this year. Cronenworth has hit .286 while recording 10 hits, four runs and seven RBIs so far this season.

Cronenworth and the Padres now will face the San Francisco Giants on the road, with their three-game series starting on Friday.