Padres' Bogaerts Criticizes Umpire After Season-Ending Wild Card Loss

San Diego Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts vocally criticized a crucial missed strike call by home plate umpire D.J. Reyburn during the ninth inning of their 3-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs in Game 3 of the National League Wild Card Series, which ended their season. Bogaerts believed the pitch was a ball, and the call directly impacted the Padres' late rally, as a walk would have loaded the bases with no outs, but instead the Padres had one out and an empty base, ultimately leading to their elimination. Manager Mike Shildt supported Bogaerts, highlighting that he is not typically dramatic about close calls, underscoring the significance of the moment. The Padres struggled to capitalize on scoring opportunities throughout the game and series, scoring only five runs in three games against the Cubs. Bogaerts expressed hope for the MLB's upcoming Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) system, set to be implemented next season, which would allow teams to challenge close calls like this. The incident underscores ongoing player frustration with inconsistent strike zones and comes as the Padres face an offseason challenge to address lineup weaknesses after falling short despite mid-season moves.