Xander Bogaerts Blasts 'Terrible' Missed Call After Padres' Playoff Elimination

San Diego Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts vehemently criticized a 'terrible' missed ball-strike call in the ninth inning of Game 3 against the Chicago Cubs, which ended the Padres' 2025 season. After Jackson Merrill's solo homer, Bogaerts, with a full count, was called out on a pitch tracked as a ball by umpire D.J. Reyburn. Bogaerts argued the call, stating to the San Diego Union-Tribune, 'It’s a ball. Messed up the whole game... Thank God for ABS next year, because this is terrible.' The controversial strikeout was significant as the next two batters were hit, meaning a walk would have loaded the bases with no outs instead of two runners on with one out. While not the sole reason for the 3-1 loss, the incident highlighted player anticipation for the automatic ball-strike challenge system in 2026. The Padres now face a difficult offseason after falling short of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West.