Steve Drumwright

The San Diego Padres learned a lot about their team following more than a month at the Peoria Sports Complex in Arizona. With the exception of a few minor injuries (plus the season-ending surgery for reliever Bryan Hoeing), the Friars came out of camp mostly healthy. That made for a competitive situation all around camp, which produced some unexpected results. As the Padres get ready for Opening Day against two-time reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal and the Detroit Tigers at Petco Park, let's take a look back at each of the position groups (rotation, bullpen, position players) to see who stood out—for reasons good and bad. Padres' Camp Stars Jase Bowen The outfielder certainly opened eyes this spring and made a push to supplant Bryce Johnson as the backup outfielder. Bowen tied for the most games played (24), had the most at-bats (54) and hits (16), tied for the team lead in homers (4) at the conclusion of spring training. Yet to make his MLB debut, the 25-year-old has just 36 games of Triple-A experience, so he will report to Triple-A El Paso and probably be the first call-up if the outfield needs reinforcement. Randy Vasquez While he stumbled a bit in his last to spring outings, the right-hander was otherwise stellar this spring. Vasquez was suddenly put in the spotlight when the Padres brought in Buehler and right-hander German Marquez, which put his seemingly safe job in the rotation somewhat in jeopardy. But he responded by not allowing a run in his first two starts, which has secured his spot among the starting five. He now sits as the No. 3 starter following a setback in Joe Musgrove's timeline, so he has a chance to further improve his standing on this team after a solid 2025. Bradgley Rodriguez The young right-hander showed why he will be a big part of the Padres' bullpen not only this year, but in the future. The 22-year-old has appeared in a team-high 10 games and allowed just one earned run (two total) in 9⅔ innings (0.83 ERA), striking out 12 and walking five. Rodriguez's status regarding the Opening Day roster is still up in the air as it will depend on how the bullpen is configured. However, he will see plenty of action in the majors this season as the inevitable opportunities arise. Padres' Camp Busts Mason McCoy The shortstop simply never put himself in position to make the Opening Day roster with his bat. He is just 7-for-41 (.171/.227/.268) this spring, although three of his hits are for extra bases. McCoy has played in 37 games with the Friars over the last two seasons, posting a slash line of .183/.275/.225. He is a glove-first player, having committed just one error with the Padres, but if he wants to be more than an emergency call-up, he will need to improve his offensive contributions. He did have a .272/.354/.450 slash line in 90 games at Triple-A El Paso in 2025. Marco Gonzales When camp began, there was real talk that the veteran left-hander might be in the rotation. That dissipated once the Friars made a few moves to bolster the starting group. Still, Gonzales didn't do himself any favors with what he did this spring; he worked to a 10.80 ERA in five appearances and 13⅓ innings. Now, Gonzales missed the entire 2025 season with left flexor tendon surgery, so shaking off some rust would be understandable. Going to Triple-A El Paso to begin the season will give him the opportunity to get back on track and make himself an option should the Friars need him. Manuel Castro The 23-year-old right-hander had a chance this spring to elevate his profile as he awaits to make his MLB debut. Instead, Castro struggled in six appearances that covered 5⅔ innings. He allowed five runs on eight hits with two walks and two strikeouts for a 7.94 ERA. Castro struggled with walks at Triple-A El Paso last year, issuing 23 in 32 innings, while striking out 30. Those 24 games were his first taste of Triple-A, so a little extra seasoning may be what he needs.

Not that the San Diego Padres needed more depth in their bullpen, but you can never have too many arms. But this one will go into the bank in hopes of a future payoff. Veteran right-hander Jose Leclerc, who has closer experience but missed most of 2025 with an injury, is close to signing a minor-league contract with the San Diego Padres, MLB insider Mike Rodriguez reported Monday. The 32-year-old had lat surgery in August and is still working his way back, projected to return to action in July. To show his progress, Leclerc threw a bullpen session recently for a handful of teams. Leclerc pitched in just 10 games and nine innings last season for the A's, with his last appearance in late April. Before that, he had spent his entire eight-year career with the Texas Rangers, including being a big part of the bullpen that helped secure the 2023 World Series championship, getting four saves that postseason. He has 41 saves in 360 career games, posting a 3.54 FIP. He has struggled with walks in his career, with a 13.1% walk rate, but excels at strikeouts with a 30.8% rate. His walk rate was 11.1% in 2024.

While it has seemed like the obvious decision since the San Diego Padres began spring training, the team took its time in formally naming the Opening Day starting pitcher. Right-hander Nick Pivetta, the Friars' best pitcher in the 2025 season, was named the starter for Thursday's season-opening game at Petco Park against the Detroit Tigers and Tarik Skubal, the winner of the last two AL Cy Young Awards. First pitch for Opening Day is 1:10 p.m. The remainder of the matchups for the Tigers series are Padres right-hander Michael King vs. Tigers left-hander Framber Valdez on Friday at 6:40 p.m. and Friars right-hander Randy Vasquez vs. Detroit right-hander Jack Flaherty. The Padres are off Sunday, then opening a three-game series vs. the San Francisco Giants at Petco Park. Right-handers Walker Buehler and German Marquez are expected to make their Padres debuts in that series.

If there is a set of players who have a chip on their shoulder entering the 2026 season, it is the group who will primarily fill the role of designated hitter for the San Diego Padres. Nick Castellanos was dumped by the Philadelphia Phillies. Miguel Andujar spent most of the last two seasons with the nomadic Athletics. Sung Mun Song is new to MLB. Ty France is back just looking for a job. And there is Gavin Sheets, who could lose playing time to one or all of those players. It is all part of the throwing-spaghetti-against-the-wall plan the Friars have taken to boosting a position that was woefully inadequate in 2025. Padres Designated Hitters At A Glance Starter: Nick Castellanos Backup: Gavin Sheets, Miguel Andujar Depth: Sung Mun Song, Manny Machado, Ty France Padres fWAR ranking last year: 21st out of 30. Padres fWAR projection this year: 25th out of 30. The Good At one point just before spring training, you could take a look at the Padres' roster and wonder if the designated hitter spot would be at all productive this year. But thanks to the usual offseason shenanigans of A.J. Preller, that is no longer the case. In fact, there are enough candidates for at-bats here that the DH spot could be a very nice contributor to the offense. Castellanos, the Philadelphia Phillies castoff, could get most of the time here if Sheets starts at first. Those two figure to be interchangeable at both positions depending on whose glove (or bat) is hotter. Then you have to factor in Andujar, who will be in the lineup somewhere—DH, left field or third base—due to his career success against left-handers (.297/.332/.475). Song and France, who could snag the last bench spot, will also see time at DH to keep their bats fresh. And that isn't even figuring in Machado, who will DH on occasion to keep him fresh from the wear and tear of playing third base. But the real focus here should be Castellanos. Setting aside the problems with the Phillies, Castellanos was a constant in Philadelphia's lineup the last four years. He posted a .260/.306/.426 slash line in that time, averaging 20 homers and 81 RBIs. Castellanos could also end up playing more first base, a position he has never played before this spring, with Sheets taking more DH at-bats. Sheets rotated between DH, first base and left field in 2025, producing a .252/.317/.429 slash line with 19 homers and 71 RBIs. With Song expected to play second base, third base and possibly shortstop and the outfield, nearly anyone could take a day or two off the field to fill in at DH. Of course, Song himself is working his way back from his second oblique injury in two months, so DH is also a spot to ease him into his first season in MLB after nine years in the Korea Baseball Organization. In his last two years in the KBO, Song hit 45 homers and had 46 steals combined while putting up slash lines of .340/.409/.518 and .315/.387/.530. respectively. The Bad Do you remember who started off at DH for the Padres in 2025? It was Yuli Gurriel, who was off the roster by early May. That set the tone for the position, which produced a .225 batting average, 25th in MLB. It could be that the Friars have too many bodies to throw at DH at this point of the season, but in essence that is a good problem to have. That depth usually sorts itself out through injuries and production. There is no huge investment in any single player in the mix at DH, so this should be a true meritocracy. The designated hitter should never be among the least productive hitters on the team, but it was for the Friars last year. A repeat of that from the laundry list of castoffs the Padres are employing in 2026 would be catastrophic. The Bottom Line Whether the individuals in this group have something to prove based on their MLB track record or are a newcomer to the league, there are plenty of possibilities here. The depth itself is better than what the Padres ran out there last year, which ended up dragging down the offense. There will be more power out of the DH position, something the team needs as a whole. Castellanos is surely motivated following his unceremonious exit from Philadelphia, but he did just turn 34 and is coming off the worst season of his career. Perhaps that is resolved with the change of scenery. Having Andujar, Song and potentially France as alternatives will provide manager Craig Stammen with choices.

The San Diego Padres are bringing Ty France with them to Opening Day. The Friars told the former San Diego State standout that he will be on the roster to begin the season, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reported Saturday. As a non-roster player in camp, the infielder will have to be added to the 40-man roster. The move comes a day after right-handed starter Walker Buehler was told he will be on the Opening Day roster. France signed a minor-league deal after camp began, which called for his salary to be $1.35 million once added to the Padres' roster. The Padres had faced a Saturday deadline to inform them of their decision or have him possibly opt-out of his contract. In winning the final spot on the bench, France has had a really good spring, putting up a .318/.367/.545 slash line with two homers with 12 RBIs in 44 at-bats. Last year's AL Gold Glove first baseman has displayed his positional versatility, playing second and third base this spring. France has played second base in an MLB game three times over the last four years and 55 times since his MLB debut with the Padres in 2019. He has not played third base since the 2022 season. But as a member of the Padres' bench for 2026, France is likely to see action at both spots early in the season, especially with Sung Mun Song expected to start the season on the injured list. Adding France means the four-person bench will likely include him, catcher Luis Campusano, outfielder-infielder Miguel Andujar, and outfielder Bryce Johnson. France started the 2025 season with the Minnesota Twins, but was traded at the deadline to the Toronto Blue Jays, where he played sparingly as the team made a run to the World Series.

The journey for Walker Buehler will continue with the San Diego Padres. The right-handed starter, signed to a minor-league deal at the beginning of spring training, has been told he is making the Padres' Opening Day roster, Kevin Acee of the San Diego-Union Tribune reported Friday. Buehler was facing an opt-out decision Saturday if not assured of making the major-league roster. Buehler's original deal called for him to make $1.5 million when on the Padres' roster. The Friars currently have one opening on their 40-man roster, so adding Buehler will not necessitate another move. Buehler was a no-brainer. He has been very good this spring, posting a 3.39 ERA in 11⅔ innings, walking four and striking out 13. He struck out seven and allowed three hits in five shutout innings Monday vs. the San Francisco Giants in his most recent start. Buehler, a former Los Angeles Dodgers star, had a rocky 2025, mostly with the Boston Red Sox before being released and signing with the Philadelphia Phillies and having better results. He will join Nick Pivetta, Michael King, and Randy Vasquez in the rotation, with German Marquez likely the final piece of what will be an all-righty rotation. Infielder Ty France, like Buehler, a non-roster invite to camp, is also facing a Saturday deadline to be on the Padres' roster, according to the Union-Tribune.

Suddenly, the San Diego Padres have just four Cactus League games left. The dog days of spring were covered up by the World Baseball Classic, but now everyone is focused on the finer things in order to get ready for Opening Day. That includes a couple of split-squad games Friday before wrapping things up with their co-tenant at the Peoria Sports Complex, the Seattle Mariners, on Monday. Then, the fateful return to San Diego. As a reminder: Don't take anything too seriously in this recap. It is only spring training, where exhibition games often devolve into minor-league scrimmages. The information below is meant as basic information, not necessarily hardcore analysis. The Friars won three in a row to improve to 14-11-1 in the Cactus League, beating the San Francisco Giants 3-1 Monday, the Seattle Mariners 9-6 Tuesday and the Chicago White Sox 13-6 Thursday. Who's Hot? 🔥 Walker Buehler With the door clearly open for a spot in the Opening Day rotation, the two-time World Series champ is doing his best to walk through it. Buehler had his best outing of the spring, going five shutout innings against the Giants, allowing three hits and two walks, while striking out seven. He threw 45 of his 77 pitches for strikes and got 11 swings and misses, all while topping out at 94.4 mph on his four-seamer. Buehler's numbers from 2025 weren't pretty, but he was much better in his final seven games as he completed his first full season after Tommy John surgery. Matt Waldron The right-hander was the subject of a lot of jokes when he required hemorrhoid surgery early in camp. While that threw off his chances of making the Opening Day rotation, he has come back and showed his value in what is a crucial season for him. Waldron threw two innings vs. the Mariners, allowing one run on two hits with no walks and two strikeouts. He was optioned to Triple-A this week, where he will build up his innings before a potential call-up. Waldron was a key part of the rotation in 2024, but only appeared in one MLB game in 2025. Rodolfo Duran An afterthought as camp began, the 28-year-old catcher has played quite a bit during Cactus League action. That is in part to Blake Hunt, who likely entered spring as No. 3 on the depth chart, sustaining an oblique injury. Duran, yet to make his MLB debut, has seized the opportunity with a .263/.462/.632 slash line in 14 games and 26 plate appearances. He has a pair of homers, six RBIs and six walks. With Luis Campusano's iffy defensive skills and spring struggles, does Duran make the Opening Day roster as the No. 2 catcher? At worst, he'll head back to Triple-A as the next man up. Who's Cold? 🧊 Michael King Still in the mix to be the Opening Day starter, the right-hander gave up six runs in five innings vs. the White Sox. Three came in the first and the other three in the fourth. King gave up three home runs, a pair to LaMonte Wade Jr. and the other to Curtis Mead. He allowed nine hits while walking two and striking out three. It was the second game in a row King allowed six runs, leaving his ERA at a problematic 10.19 in five games, with opponents hitting .351 against him. This cannot continue into the regular season if the Friars want any chance of surviving the NL West gauntlet. Ramon Laureano To be fair, the left fielder hasn't struggled that much, but he does lead the team with 15 strikeouts this spring in 33 at-bats. When he does make contact, he has put up a .273/.368/.515 slash line with one homer and three RBIs. The Friars would certainly take that average this season, especially if he can repeat his 24 homers, which tied his career high, from a year ago. Laureano will be a key to how the bottom half of the order performs this season, perhaps hitting as high as sixth and being counted on to drive in runs. Manny Machado After going 6-for-20 in the World Baseball Classic for the Dominican Republic, the superstar third baseman returned to the Padres and has picked up right where he left off before the WBC. In other words, he has not good. Machado had been just 2-for-9 this spring (both hits homers in a single game) before the WBC. In his first game back, Machado went 0-for-3 and is now hitting .167 this spring. That was just one game after his two-week stint with the Dominican Republic, so hopefully the bat shows some life this weekend as Opening Day approaches.

Padres Mission's countdown of the top 20 prospect in the San Diego Padres' organization comes to a conclusion with the No. 1 prospect, as voted on by our writers. Check out all of the other entries in the ranking here: No. 2 : Kash Mayfield No. 3: Kruz Schoolcraft No. 4: Bradgley Rodriguez No. 5: Miguel Mendez No. 6: Jagger Haynes No. 7: Humberto Cruz No. 8: Ty Harvey No. 9: Ryan Wideman No. 10: Kale Fountain Nos. 11-15 Nos. 16-20 No. 1: Ethan Salas (San Antonio Missions) Despite being born in Kissimmee, Fla., Salas qualified as an international free agent with family ties to Venezuela. As a 16-year-old, he was the No. 1 prospect in the 2023 class, signing with the Padres for a $5.6 million bonus, at the time the largest handed out in the current capped system. Year Age AgeDif Tm Lg Lev Aff G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS TB GDP HBP SH SF IBB 2023 17 -7.4 San Antonio TL AA SDP 9 33 28 2 5 1 0 0 3 0 1 4 8 .179 .303 .214 .517 6 1 1 0 0 0 2023 17 -5.3 Fort Wayne MIDW A+ SDP 9 37 35 3 7 1 0 0 3 0 0 2 10 .200 .243 .229 .472 8 0 0 0 0 0 2023 17 -4.2 Lake Elsinore CALL A SDP 48 220 191 35 51 11 2 9 35 5 2 24 57 .267 .350 .487 .837 93 3 2 0 3 0 2024 18 -4.3 Fort Wayne MIDW A+ SDP 113 469 412 38 85 27 2 4 53 10 3 47 98 .206 .288 .311 .599 128 4 3 0 7 0 2024 18 -4.2 Peoria AZFL Fal 23 107 92 14 21 6 0 4 21 4 1 13 27 .228 .327 .424 .751 39 1 1 0 1 0 2025 19 -5.0 San Antonio TL AA SDP 10 41 32 5 6 1 0 0 5 2 0 6 5 .188 .325 .219 .544 7 0 1 1 1 0 Salas, who played with players twice his age in the Venezuelan winter league just months before signing, made his debut in the Padres organization two days before his 17th birthday, playing for the Low-A Lake Elsinore Storm. Coming from a baseball family—dad Jose Salas Sr. played catcher in the Atlanta system, his paternal grandfather and his dad's brother played in the minors and Ethan has two brothers currently in the minors (Jose Jr. with the Minnesota Twins and Andrew with the Miami Marlins)—Salas had a wealth of knowledge that helped elevate his prospect status. Plus, being a 6-foot-2, 185-pounder who would have had to wait another year or two before being drafted doesn't hurt, either. He was a rare catcher that not only had elite defense, but had a good approach at the plate as a left-handed hitter. He has a proclivity for hitting the ball to all fields and was scouted with plus power. Salas showed those skills at Lake Elsinore. In his first 48 professional games, Salas had a slash line of .267/.350/.487 with nine homers, 35 RBIs and five stolen bases. Defensively, he had just one error and threw out eight of 37 steal attempts. As the Padres are wont to do, Salas was quickly promoted to the High-A Fort Wayne TinCaps. He wasn't there very long, playing in just nine games with Fort Wayne and struggling offensively with a .200/.243/.229 slash line. With the season coming to an end, the Padres surprisingly moved Salas up again, this time to the Double-A San Antonio Missions, where he spent another nine games. There, he had a slash line of .179/.303/.214. Baseball America and MLB Pipeline each had Salas ranked as the No. 8 prospect in baseball as he returned to Fort Wayne to start the 2024 season as a 17-year-old, the youngest player in the Midwest League. This time, he stuck around for 113 games, but the offense he showed at Lake Elisnore wasn't there. Salas put together a .206/.288/.311 slash line with four homers, 53 RBIs and 10 steals, playing against players who on average were 4.3 years older than he was. He threw out 28 of 111 runners attempting to steal in 67 games at catcher. With a full season under his belt, the Friars sent him to the Arizona Fall League, a prospect showcase. The offense was still a work in progress as he finished with a .228/.327/.424 slash line, but he did pop four homers and drove in 21. The lack of offense started to dampen Salas' prospect luster, as Baseball America dropped him to No. 31 and MLB Pipeline to No. 33 entering 2025. Now 18 years old, Salas went up to Double-A, where he was five years younger than the average player in the Texas League. But just 10 games into the season, Salas' campaign came to an abrupt end with a stress reaction in his lower back. Salas, now 19, is likely returning to San Antonio to begin 2026. He participated in major-league camp this year, but went just 2-for-11 (.182). He slid further in the prospect rankings, tumbling to No. 90 in the Baseball America list and not being included in MLB Pipeline's Top 100. Some outlets even moved Salas to No. 2 in the Padres' system, behind last year's first-round draft pick, left-handed starter Kruz Schoolcraft. All of this adds up to making 2026 a key year for Salas. The defense is still there, with improvements made to his throwing process to better cut down runners. His approach at the plate has been considered simple (in a good way, with fewer moving parts) and he had an 86% in-zone contact rate in 2024 and his brief stint in 2025 before being hurt. He improved his strikeout rate by about five percentage points from 2023 to 2024 even though he didn't fare well against breaking balls. How the Friars treat Salas if he has success offensively will be something to watch. Double-A pitching is sometimes better than Triple-A pitching due to the number of prospects at the second-highest minor-league level, so any development on that front would be a huge boon for the best catcher in the system. While he was out injured last year and continuing this offseason, Salas worked with a number of people who have catching experience in the Padres' organization, including A.J. Ellis, Scott Servais and Mike Borzello, a current advance scout with a lot of experience on championship-winning teams as a bullpen catcher and catching coach. It helped Salas with game-planning and other items to sharpen him defensively. He is now up to 215 pounds (and down to 6-foot-1 in revised measurements) and worked to shorten his swing to improve his offense. "Cerebrally he’s advanced for his age, and for as little as he’s played, he absorbs the information really well," Borzello told the San Diego Union-Tribune. "Now it’s just about playing and getting reps." Added Salas: "I think that’s why I didn’t see last year as the biggest negative in the world. I just took a lot of time to reflect, kind of make a plan starting forward and how I want to start going about things and I want to start playing and taking care of my business." With better health, Salas could make a loud return to top prospect lists around the league in 2026. Hard as it is to believe, he's still just a teenager, as he won't turn 20 until June.

The San Diego Padres will be stuck in the Mud for a few more years. In this case, that's actually a good thing. Television analyst Don "Mudcat" Grant has agreed to a multi-year extension with the Friars, keeping one of MLB's top announcing teams together. The move was reported Thursday by Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune. Don Orsillo, the team's play-by-play announcer for TV games, signed a multi-year extension last spring. Grant is a former right-hander pitcher who spent parts of four (1987-90) of his eight MLB seasons in a Padres uniform. He has been an analyst for Friars television since 1996, following his last in 1993. The Union-Tribune said Grant had been operating on a series of one-year deals. Orsillo has been calling Friars games since 2016. Together, they form not only an informative tandem, but a hilarious one as well. Grant is either providing most of the humor or the subject of it. They are scheduled to call their first game of the spring tonight at 6:10 p.m. on Friars.tv as the Padres play the Chicago White Sox.

Every hidden nook, cranny, and secret value at the San Diego Padres ballpark. By the fans, for the fans. Whether you're an out-of-towner visiting Petco Park and looking for tips, or you're a local who wants to make sure you're getting the most out of your experience at this elite ballpark, we've got you covered. This comprehensive guide will walk you through every step of the Petco Park experience, but should you have additional recommendations or suggestions, please use the comment fields found below this article. Enjoy and have a great time at Petco Park! Table of Contents (click to jump to section) Petco Park Facts and Specs Best Places to Park Around Petco Park Best Seats at Petco Park Best Food at Petco Park Best Bars at Petco Park, Ranked Secret Gems of Petco Park Self-Guided Petco Park Walking Tour Petco Park Fan FAQs Petco Park Facts and Specs Address: 100 Park Blvd., San Diego, CA 92101 Opened: April 3, 2004 Capacity: 39,860 Gates open: 90 minutes before first pitch, 2 hours for season-ticket members Dimensions Left-field line: 334 feet Left field: 357 feet Left-center field: 390 feet Center field: 396 feet Right-center field: 391 feet Right field: 382 feet Right-field line: 328 feet Playing Surface: BullsEye Bermuda Grass Best Places To Park Around Petco Park With the stadium being downtown, there are plenty of options to park, but there are some places that will cost you more. The Padres do offer three small lots to park at near the stadium. Those are the Lexus Premier Lot, Tailgate Park, and Padres Parkade. You must purchase a spot through the team. The Padres say these spaces are discounted, but that could also mean $30. Lexus Premier Lot Location: 58 11th Ave. This lot has 430 spaces and is just across the street from Petco Park, behind the home plate entrance on Park Boulevard. No tailgating here. Tailgate Park Location: 1235 K St. With just more than 1,000 spaces, this is pretty much the only place to legally tailgate and is a short walk away from the stadium, down the right-field side, also accessible from Park Boulevard. Tailgating is subject to rules provided by ACE Parking. Consuming alcohol is prevented 30 minutes following game time, so no postgame revelry. You also can’t throw a ball around. Pretty much just cook behind your vehicle, and only gas grills are allowed. No charcoal grills. No other fun allowed. Padres Parkade Location: 440 11th Ave. Located on J Street between 10th and 11th avenues, this lot is a little more than a block beyond the right-field or center-field entrances. This is a parking garage with just more than 1,000 spaces. No tailgating here. Other places to park Location: Throughout downtown There are a number of parking garages and street-level lots that will accommodate your vehicle and are within walking distance of the stadium. I have never had an issue parking in either. There are a number of companies that run the various locations, with ACE Parking being the most prominent one (and operating under the Park It On Market name as well). The Padres also promote the parking site SpotHero to help you find a spot. Prices will vary, but it won’t be prohibitive to the rest of your game-day experience, especially if your friends chip in. You will have to walk a few blocks to get to the stadium, or you could hit up the Gaslamp District for food and beverage before going into Petco Park, depending on how early you arrive. Bus and trolley service is also available to get you near the stadium if you want to park farther away from the stadium and enjoy public transportation. There are also bike racks at Trevor Hoffman Way and Tony Gwynn Drive, on J Street at Eighth and Ninth avenues, and across from the Gaslamp Entry Gate on Seventh Avenue. If you are truly adventurous, the San Diego Bay Ferry departs from the Coronado Ferry Landing Shopping Center and drops you off behind the Convention Center, just a short walk to the stadium. Best Seats At Petco Park This is all a matter of personal preference. Some people love to sit right on top of the action, while others prefer the upper deck to see a wider view and to soak in some of the cityscape. Of course, price is always a factor, whether you are purchasing directly from the Padres or through a reseller, where you can often find bargains, especially as the first pitch gets closer. And don’t forget that Petco Park is almost always full regardless of the opponent. I have never had a bad seat at Petco, but there are a few caveats. If you sit in the lower level of the left-field bleachers, you won’t be able to see the main scoreboard in left field due to the second-deck overhang. There is a scoreboard in right field that you can see, and the ribbon boards with game info. Another slightly problematic spot is down each line at field level. Those seats angle in to give you a better view of the field, but if a ball is hit down into the corner, you are likely to miss it because of the configuration. Not a huge deal in my mind. If you are attending a day game, the right-field side is the sun side, but be prepared for the sun no matter where you are. Don’t forget that there are some policies about what you can and can’t bring into the stadium. You can check those out here. There are some fun places to watch the game, but for a premium price. Of course, you have to start with ... Western Metal Supply Co. Building A renovation took place before the 2025 season and this is the perfect spot to hold a corporate outing or accommodate a large group where everyone can mingle while watching the game. It has its own bar, furniture to chill and chat and other games like pool to keep you busy if the game loses some interest. The biggest addition with the renovation was a staircase that connected the Budweiser Loft with the rooftop. But if you want to use this space, make sure to contact the Padres early. Toyota Beach Well, it used to be a beach. Now, it is more of a deck, with chairs and tables that try to emulate a beach theme. But there is no sand here anymore. Picnic Terrace If you are a fan of pitching, this is the spot for you. The Picnic Terrace is located out in left-center field, just above the bullpens for the visitors and Padres. No, the manager isn’t pointing at you to come in to get out of a bases-loaded jam. This is a very casual spot to hang out and enjoy your favorite beverage or food from one of the nearby concession stands. Craft Pier Located just beyond the right-center field wall, this is the spot to go to for beer lovers. As the name indicates, you can find a wide variety of craft beers here. There are a number of other premium spots available with their own amenities if you don’t want to sit in a more traditional spot. Best Food At Petco Park Do you like food? Of course you do. Why else would you be in this section? Anything said after this point comes with the stipulation that you are going to pay more than you should for anything you eat at Petco Park. That is the standard for any sporting event. New for 2026 Just as there are new players on the roster for 2026, there are fresh offerings on the Petco Park menu this year. Some are simply additions by existing venues, while others are new vendors. Pop Pie Co.: Already with six locations, mainly in San Diego but also in the region, Pop Pie Co. is bringing its two of its marquee 5-inch savory pies to Petco Park: Classic Chicken (chicken breast, thigh meat, garden vegetables, pearl onions, creamy herb sauce) and Green Hog & Cheese (slow-braised pork shoulder, roasted serrano, jalapeno, pasilla peppers, tomatillo, jack cheese; peppers are all deveined and deseeded). Location: Section 129 (cart) Curry House CoCo Ichibanya: The worldwide franchise is the other new venue at Petco Park, bringing garlic naan bread, curry rice, curry buns, and keema cheese fries. Also on the menu is the panko-crusted mackerel Fish Fry from Sanyo Foods. Location: Section 104 Delaware North: The traditional stadium vendor has a couple of new stands with specific offerings. This one looks to be my personal favorite new item. In the style of a French dip, The Shortstop is a braised beef short-rib sandwich with Boursin aioli and au jus on a French roll with chips. There is also a chili cheese dog, an all-beef wiener topped with short-rib chili, cheese, and onions. Location: Section 100 Padres Pretzels: If you like pretzels, and who doesn’t, there is the Padres Pretzels stand, where you can get anything from a classic pretzel to a ranch pretzel to honey mustard and even a s’more pretzel. Also, a few different types of pretzel bites. Location: Section 206 Gelati & Peccati: The SoCal pizza and gelato spot is adding an Italian sandwich on focaccia, the Mortadella (arugula, stracciatella cheese, and pistachios), and the Caprese (stracciatella cheese, San Marzano tomatoes, and basil pesto). Location: Section 104 Stadium Staples Reflecting the diversity and culture of San Diego, Petco Park has a little something for everyone, whether your taste is quick and simple (Jack In The Box, Section 323) or something more sophisticated (Spiro’s Mediterranean Cuisine, see below), you can satiate your taste buds with whatever they are craving. Regardless of what you want, be prepared to stand in line for a few minutes. Several of the following, including Hodad’s, Gaglione Brothers, Seaside Market, and Puesto, offer gluten-free options. Check out the link above to also find vegan, vegetarian, and pescatarian venues. Hodad’s: The famous local burger joint has several locations throughout the stadium when you have a hankering for a good patty with your favorite fixings. Locations: The Mercado near Sections 104, 131, 230, and 300 Gaglione Brothers: Another San Diego staple, you can find cheesesteaks and other sandwiches here. Locations: Sections 124 and 319 Puesto: If you want Mexican, Puesto is highly recommended, especially by Padres pitcher Joe Musgrove, who has his own Tijuana-inspired Joe’s Adobada taco. Locations: Sections 119, 120, and 202 Seaside Market: Despite its name, Seaside Market is known for its tri-tip, which has the nickname of “Cardiff Crack.” Yeah, it is that good. There are flatbreads, salads, fresh fruit, and even a banana bread pudding helmet that became available in 2025. Locations: Sections 105, 110, 308, 311, 322, 327, and Gallagher Square Pizza Port: Want a slice and a beer? No better spot than Pizza Port. Locations: Sections 121, 213, 311, and 320 San Diego’s Finest Hot Chicken: One of the hottest — literally and figuratively — items at Petco Park is the Hot Hen sandwich. It has Fresno chile slaw and a fuego sauce. Make sure to have a beverage nearby. Locations: Sections 104 (Mercado) and 316 Randy Jones Grill: If you just want a hot dog, the ultimate ballpark food, it is worth seeking out the Randy Jones Grill. Your footlong dog can be plain or bacon-wrapped. Always choose bacon-wrapped. Locations: Sections 101, 118, 305, 306, and 323 Spiro’s Mediterranean: With a Greek influence, find some tasty options with lamb, beef, or chicken along with some wonderful sauces and pita bread. Location: Section 124 Lane Field Lemonade: This is snack heaven. From lemonade to bottled soda to tea, you can also get cotton candy, a jumbo pretzel, Dippin’ Dots, kettle corn, and peanuts. Locations: Sections 104 (Mercado), 113, 125, 133, 208, 213, 302, 309, 320, and 323 Mister Softee: Whether it is in a cone or a cup, who doesn’t like a little (or a lot) of ice cream while taking in a game? Locations: Sections 109 and 133 Best Bars Near Petco Park This is by no means the elite of the elite around the stadium, just one person’s summary of some of the offerings within stumbling distance of Petco Park. The Gaslamp has too many excellent places to go to list here. Barleymash: A nice open concept with a bar in the middle and plenty of TVs; bourbon is a specialty here. That includes a Ron Burgundy, which is Forester Single Barrel Select, two types of bitters (Angostura and orange), and sugar. The food is excellent, too, with the well-known mac and cheese selections, shared plates, flatbreads, a variety of fries, and a dinner offering that includes a 22-ounce bone-in ribeye as well as a full rack of ribs. Address: 600 Fifth Ave. Website: www.barleymash.com Bub’s at the Ballpark: One of my favorites, you can cozy up to the bar or grab a table with friends and load up on your favorite food and drink while elbow-to-elbow with other fans. Tots are a specialty here and are a must-have with whatever you order—or order a bowl of tots, either buffalo, nachyo or Schm'animal. What is Schm'animal? Carmelized bacon-onions, cheese and a house-made Thousand Island sauce. Plenty of appetizer and sandwich options, too, with a nice selection of beers, cocktails and wine. Address: 715 J St. Website: bubssandiego.com Diamond Room: Located at the corner of Seventh Avenue and K Street, just steps from the stadium’s Gaslamp Gate, this Padres venture is a high-end cocktail bar that wants you to make “pour decisions.” It opened in January and currently lists as being closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, although that could change once the season begins. Food is also on the menu, with a limited offering of a smash burger, a diamond dog, and deviled eggs (with caviar). Address: 323 Seventh Ave. Website: www.diamondroomsd.com Fairweather Rooftop Bar: This can be a two-in-one experience. The lower level is La Cantina at Fairweather, a festive area where you can grab beer and tacos (and other food) and then move upstairs to the Fairweather Rooftop Bar to relax before the game. The rooftop bar overlooks Gallagher Square with a view of Petco Park. Address: 793 J St. Website: fairweatherbar.com The Blind Burro: Ranked as the No. 1 game-day bar by San Diego Magazine, this is your shot-and-a-beer place to go before the game. Don’t overlook the food with a strong menu of tacos and other Mexican offerings, including a TJ dog and tinga tostadas. You better like being shoulder-to-shoulder with other Friars fans as this place is popular. Address: 639 J St. Website: www.theblindburro.com The Deck at Moonshine Flats: If a country western feel is more your flow, put your boots on and head here. Grab a 32-ounce bucket drink, including a Show Us Your Tatis offering (Captain Morgan, coconut rum, Goslings dark rum, pineapple juice, orange juice, and grenadine. There is a basic food menu. Address: 335 Sixth Ave. Website: thedecksd.com Tom’s Watch Bar: A true sports bar, Tom’s has all the TVs you could dream of with an extensive menu to stress eat your way through any late-inning drama going on and a variety of adult beverages to celebrate with or to drown your sorrows. Address: 815 J. St. Suite 101 Website: tomswatchbar.com/san-diego/ Secret Gems Of Petco Park Tony Gwynn statue and tunnel: The best player in Padres history is Tony Gwynn. There is no argument there. To commemorate playing all 20 seasons of his MLB career in San Diego, the Padres erected a 9½-foot-tall statue of Mr. Padre at Tony Gwynn Terrace, which is located in Gallagher Square. There is also a tunnel beneath the terrace with three murals depicting the Hall of Famer’s career and his impact on the city. Gwynn’s statue is positioned in such a way as to face one of the other two statues at Petco Park: One for Trevor Hoffman. They are situated as to imagine Hoffman and Gwynn squaring off in an at-bat. Announcer Jerry Coleman has the other statue, which is located at the East Village Gate (right field). Take in the views: Petco Park is easy to walk around, and if you haven’t before, make sure to walk around the entire stadium and go up each level. That includes climbing up the third deck in right field. When you take a look at the various views, you will see some of the best views of not only downtown San Diego, but also of the surrounding area. Soak it in. Attend a Friday game: Not only is it the beginning of the weekend, but the game almost feels secondary as the fans in the stands are in a celebratory mood. Not only are there $5 beers (yes, $5 for a cold one), but the team has typically worn its pink-and-green City Connect uniforms each Friday home game. This year, the City Connects are changing, set to be unveiled in April with a rumored flashback to the burnt-orange and dark-blue interlocking SD and honoring Dia de los Muertos. Self-Guided Petco Park Walking Tour Coming soon! Petco Park Fan FAQs There is a lot to know when going to Petco Park. You can find a full list of things here, but we will address some big items below. What time do the gates open? All gates open 90 minutes before game time, with season-ticket members able to enter 2 hours before first pitch at the Park Boulevard Gate and Home Plate Gate. Opening Day, the postseason, and special events could have different entry times. What types of bags can I bring in? Only clear plastic bags with a single compartment that are no bigger than 12x6x12 inches, as well as infant and medical bags. Also, purses, clutches, and fanny packs can be no larger than 5x7 inches. Can I watch batting practice? The Padres will have finished batting practice when all the gates open (and will have 20 minutes remaining for season-ticket members). The Padres begin BP 2 hours, 40 minutes before game time. You will, however, be able to watch most of the visiting team take BP, which concludes 50 minutes before first pitch. Teams do not typically take batting practice on Sundays. When can I tour Petco Park? There are daily tours, game-day tours, educational tours, and private tours. Tickets must be purchased for all of these excursions. Where can I park my bicycle? Petco Park has many racks around the stadium to securely leave their bike. What animals are allowed inside the stadium? Aside from Bark at the Park or other select promotional days and adhering to USADA regulations, the only service animals allowed inside Petco Park with those who are disabled are a dog or miniature horse trained to do work or perform tasks for the fan, and must be related to their disability. Emotional support or companionship animals are not allowed. When Gallagher Square is open to the public, the city does enforce a leash law. Additionally, there are the Barkyard Suites for each game. You can find out more about that feature here. Ballpark food is expensive. Can I bring my own food into the stadium? Yes. All food containers must adhere to the bag policy and be consumed at your seat. Outside food cannot be brought into any stadium restaurant, club, lounge, or suite. Fruits, including oranges and apples, must be sliced or sectioned. Each person can bring one sealed bottle of water (clear and unflavored) up to 32 ounces (1 liter). Juice, milk, or other ADA-required liquids must be in a soft-sided container and sealed. Clear, empty reusable water bottles up to 32 ounces (1 liter) are also allowed. You are not allowed to bring in alcohol. Is there wi-fi? Yes, log on to PadresWiFi. What happens if I lose my phone, wallet, or purse (or anything else)? First, if you find something, turn it into one of the guest service centers in sections 108, 131, or 303. All items will be documented and held for 30 days. If not claimed, items will be either disposed of or donated to charity. Following games, you can fill out a form at padres.com/lostandfound to help possibly retrieve your item(s).

There are precious few days left before the San Diego Padres depart sunny Arizona and return home to sunny SoCal to begin the 2026 season. But as the clock ticks down toward Opening Day on March 26 vs. Tarik Skubal and the Detroit Tigers, there are still some key items to figure out regarding who will be on the Opening Day roster. Some are more simple, like which players start the season on the injured list, and others will come to choosing the right player for the right role. Let's take a look at the top three questions remaining: 1. Who fills out the Padres' starting rotation? We know that right-handers Nick Pivetta, Michael King and Randy Vasquez are in the rotation barring anything unforeseen in their final Cactus League outings. That leaves two spots. Or is it one? An interesting wrinkle in this decision is that the Padres have two days off in the first eight days of the regular season. That means the Friars don't need a fifth starter until the second Sunday of the season, April 5 on the road against the Boston Red Sox. There are different ways for the Friars to approach this; they could ho with a traditional five-man rotation and give the starters a little extra rest to begin the season, which is not a bad idea, or go with four starters and a nine-man bullpen. There are two primary candidates for this: right-handers Walker Buehler and German Marquez. Buehler is not currently on the 40-man roster after signing a minor-league deal with an opt-out before Opening Day if not on the MLB roster. Buehler does get a $1.5 million contract if added to the Padres' roster. Marquez signed a major-league deal for one year and $1.75 million. Buehler has been the better of the two thus far in spring, with a 3.09 ERA in three Cactus League games, walking four and striking out 13 in 11⅔ innings. Marquez hasn't been as sharp, with a 9.26 ERA in four appearances, with five walks and 15 strikeouts, nine coming in his five-inning start Tuesday. With Pivetta having dealt with some arm fatigue and skipping a spring start (he did return last weekend), this feels like a five-man rotation situation, with Buehler and Marquez taking those Nos. 4 and 5 slots. 2. What does the Friars' bullpen look like? First-year manager Craig Stammen, himself a former MLB reliever, has enjoyed using the term "bridge" when referring to some Friars bullpen candidates this spring. That could be key when trying to figure out who will be among the eight relievers selected for Opening Day. The Friars boasted one of the best bullpens in all of MLB last season and that doesn't figure to change much despite losing closer Robert Suarez to Atlanta via free agency. That, in large part, is due to having added arguably the top reliever in baseball at the trade deadline in right-hander Mason Miller. Adrian Morejon and Wandy Peralta are the locked-in left-handers, while right-handers Jeremiah Estrada, David Morgan and Bradgley Rodriguez are the top right-handers. The other two spots depend on the health of left-hander Yuki Matsui, who has been throwing after sustaining an oblique injury in camp. He probably needs two solid Cactus League appearances to make the Opening Day roster. Left-hander JP Sears, who had been a candidate for the rotation, could instead be a bullpen option or sent to Triple-A El Paso for rotation depth. The latter seems the better choice for the team. With left-hander Kyle Hart and right-hander Logan Gillaspie showing good signs in camp and fulfilling the bridge role they likely take the last two bullpen spots thanks to their ability to cover multiple innings. Left-hander Jackson Wolf is another bridge option, but was reassigned to minor-league camp earlier this week. 3. Where does Craig Stammen's bench stand? The Padres' starting lineup pretty much returned intact, with the only true subtraction being Luis Arraez. Catcher: Freddy Fermin. First base: Nick Castellanos. Second base: Jake Cronenworth. Third base: Manny Machado. Shortstop: Xander Bogaerts. Left field: Ramon Laureano. Center field: Jackson Merrill. Right field: Fernando Tatis Jr. Designated hitter: Gavin Sheets. With four bench spots, one goes to Luis Campusano as the backup catcher. Infielder Sung Mun Song's second oblique injury likely means he will begin the season on the injured list, although he has been swinging in recent days. Outfielder-infielder Miguel Andujar has a spot secured. Needing a backup outfielder who can play center gives Bryce Johnson a spot, at least to begin the season. That leaves just one remaining. Ty France, in camp on a minor-league contract, has been good this spring, with the 2025 AL Gold Glove first baseman also playing second, third and left field. He is back after beginning his MLB career in 2019 with the Friars and could be the ultimate beneficiary of Song's lingering oblique troubles. Bonus: Who will enter MLB Opening Day on the injured list? It is never fun to be on the injured list, especially for Opening Day. Right-handed reliever Bryan Hoeing is already on the 15-day IL and is scheduled to have season-ending surgery on his right flexor tendon. He will eventually be transferred to the 60-day IL, opening up a 40-man roster spot (possibly for France or Buehler). Right-hander Joe Musgrove will also begin the season on the 15-day IL, as he still is on the comeback path from Tommy John surgery. Another starter, right-hander Griffin Canning, is still working his way back from a ruptured left Achilles. Both could return in mid- to late April if things go well. Right-handed starter Matt Waldron is in more of a sticky situation; he had hemorrhoid surgery in camp and has been working his way back on the mound and made his Cactus League debut with two innings Tuesday. With no minor-league options remaining, going on the 15-day IL with a possible rehab assignment will give the Padres an outlet to keep him around until they need him. Right-hander Jason Adam, a key member of the bullpen, has been on track to be ready for Opening Day following a ruptured left quad on Sept. 1 that required surgery. The Padres might take a cautious rout with his return with an IL placement. Matsui's oblique injury could be an excuse to put him on the 15-day IL and give the injury more time to heal. Right-handed reliever Ty Adcock made his Cactus League debut Monday following an oblique injury and was optioned to Triple-A on Tuesday. The same story applies to Song. The former Korea Baseball Organization star is likely to go on the 10-day IL considering he has had the same injury twice since the start of the calendar year. Infielder Will Wagner is yet another player with an oblique injury and he is likely to begin the season on the 10-day IL before heading to Triple-A.

You know it is getting closer to Opening Day when guys thought to be in the mix for a spot on the 26-man roster are sent to minor-league camp. Right-handed reliever Ty Adcock, who just returned from an oblique injury, was optioned to Triple-A El Paso by the San Diego Padres on Tuesday. Adcock had been battling an oblique in camp before making his Cactus League debut Monday. Also, infielder-outfielder Samad Taylor and left-hander Jackson Wolf were reassigned to Triple-A. Taylor entered camp as a strong candidate to earn a bench spot. The speedy 27-year-old, who has 38 games of MLB experience, posted a .233/.265/.300 slash line in 30 at-bats over 17 games, with five RBIs and three stolen bases. His path became more difficult as the Padres brought in Nick Castellanos and Ty France early in camp. Wolf was a long shot to make the Friars' bullpen, but did get some attention with his spring showing, putting up a 2.38 ERA in 11⅓ innings, walking six and striking out eight.

Long gone are the days of Benito Santiago, who excelled at the plate as well as behind it. Such a catcher, if they're even in the system, is still a ways off. Thus, the San Diego Padres have tried to piece together a catching tandem that will help the team make a push for NL West title or a postseason berth. Freddy Fermin begins his first full season with the Friars and will be the No. 1 catcher for the first time in his brief MLB career. Will he be able to handle the rigors? Can Luis Campusano be good enough defensively to get his bat into the lineup? Padres Catchers At A Glance Starter: Freddy Fermin Backup: Luis Campusano Depth: Blake Hunt, Rodolfo Duran, Anthony Vilar Prospects: Ethan Salas, Ty Harvey, Lamar King Jr., Truit Madonna Padres fWAR ranking last year: 28th out of 30. Padres fWAR projection this year: 19th out of 30. The Good Whether it was a desperation move or the Padres actually thought so highly of him, Fermin was acquired at the trade deadline for two starting pitchers, Ryan Bergert and Stephen Kolek. At the time, the Friars were in need of offense from the position without losing much defensively; prior to the trade, the Padres had the worst fWAR at the position of any team in MLB as they tried to stay afloat with Martin Maldonado and Elias Diaz. While he won't be confused for his Royals mentor, 2015 World Series MVP and five-time Silver Slugger Salvador Perez, as an offensive weapon, Fermin is certainly not the black hole that Maldonado and Diaz were. Fermin had a career .268/.314/.383 slash line in K.C. with a high of nine homers in 235 plate appearances in 2023. Those numbers slipped to .244/.278/.339 in 42 games as the Friars' regular catcher following the deal, though that drop in performance can at least be partially attributed to Fermin focusing on getting to know a whole new set of pitchers. But now in 2026, Fermin is firmly the No. 1 catcher, with Campusano as the backup. Campusano is the more accomplished hitter, but not the defender that Fermin is. Fermin has a terrific pop time of 1.90 seconds, which is in the 88th percentile, and led to a caught-stealing above average that was in the 76th percentile. His blocks also ranked in the 72nd percentile. His framing is certainly his weakest skill behind the plate, but with the introduction of the ABS system this year, the team should be able to mitigate some of that. The 27-year-old Campusano spent all but 10 games of 2025 at Triple-A El Paso, where he tore it up. In 105 games and 472 plate appearances, he had a slash line of .336/.441/.595 with 25 homers and 95 RBIs, yet did not get a call to the majors when the Padres needed offense from the catching position. In the majors, Campusano has a career slash line of .240/.294/.372 over 178 games with inconsistent playing time. The Bad Picking up on that last note, why wasn't Campusano brought up? Campusano's pop time from 2024 at the MLB level was 1.97 seconds, which was in the 38th percentile, while his framing, caught-sealing above average and blocks above average were all in the bottom nine percentiles. In other words, he's bad behind the plate. How much did that catching improve at Triple-A last year or over the winter, as he played 13 games in the Dominican Winter League? The Padres appear convinced it will be good enough to at least spell Fermin once or twice a week. Campusano is out of minor-league options, so it would require putting him through waivers to send him back to the minors, perhaps a reason why A.J. Preller, the Friars' president of baseball operations, decided to stick with Campusano this spring. After all, he was a fairly highly touted prospect just a few years ago. As for the 30-year-old Fermin, while his offense is solid enough, he doesn't bring much in the way of productivity besides a rather routine batting average. His average exit velocity last year of 89.1 mph ranked in the 39th percentile of all MLB hitters. And other than a strikeout percentage of 18.7% that ranked in the 66th percentile, everything other notable metric was worse than his exit velocity numbers. The Bottom Line The Royals were willing to part with Fermin for two reasons. First, they got two young starting pitchers in return. Second, Fermin was going to start getting expensive, as he was arbitration-eligible for the first time this past offseason. How this experiment works out with Fermin, a defense-first catcher who provides a little bit of offense, and Campusano, an offense-first catcher who struggles defensively, will be interesting to watch. As long as Fermin can hit in the .250 range in his first season as an everyday catcher, you would think the Friars would be happy with that and the defense he brings. How much rope Campusano is given is another question. There were thoughts early in spring training of carrying three catchers, with Hunt being the backup and Campusano getting time at designated hitter and perhaps first base in addition to pinch-hitting. But with other moves made to create a logjam at first base and DH, that is no longer an option. That doesn't mean there aren't better days coming for the Padres at catcher. Salas, arguably the top prospect in the organization, should be starting the season at Double-A, where he played just 10 games last year due to a stress reaction in his back. Salas is elite defensively and has 20-homer potential. A healthy 2026 could put him in the mix for the starting job as early as next spring.