Kyle Higashioka, San Diego’s surprising postseason cog, helped eliminate the Atlanta Braves in the NL Wild Card Series with two homers in two games.
The throw-in has become a playoff star and sure, the Padres can get Higgy with that.
Kyle Higashioka, San Diego’s unlikely postseason cog, hit his second homer in as many nights to help push the Padres past the Atlanta Braves, 5-4, in the National League Wild Card Series on Wednesday.
The Padres now face the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL Division Series opener on Saturday, while the Braves begin vacations after dropping two games.
San Diego, though, motors north with a knot in its stomach after seeing starter Joe Musgrove exit after 3.2 innings with what the club described as right elbow tightness.
Musgrove, who allowed one run, had two stints on the injury list this season for an ailment in the same elbow, forcing him to miss 63 games.
While the Padres await word on Musgrove’s tests, they’ll ride the Higashioka wave.
Higashioka, 34, has quickly become a favorite of San Diego’s fans and the Padres’ bean counters. He’s clutch and a great value on a one-year, $2.1 million deal.
San Diego manager Mike Shildt appreciates Higashioka on and off the diamond.
“Just the makeup, the quality of person, the anchor of who he is and how he goes about things in the clubhouse’’ Shildt said. “He keeps a good vibe, plays his guitar. He has a good sense of energy about him. He’s got a nice sense of humor.
“He’s just been a real asset in the clubhouse as advertised. And everything positive that people said about him is true across the board and maybe more so.”
When the Padres decided last offseason that superstar Juan Soto didn’t fit into their plans, or their budget, they sought interested suitors.
