Steve Drumwright

The first significant blow to the San Diego Padres' Opening Day rotation became somewhat official as first-year manager Craig Stammen said Monday that right-hander Joe Musgrove will begin the season on the injured list. Musgrove, the Padres' best pitcher when healthy and author of the first no-hitter in franchise history, has not pitched since having Tommy John surgery after the Friars were eliminated from the postseason in 2024. The 33-year-old had been building toward a spot in the rotation to begin the season, but made just one appearance, a start against Great Britain in a World Baseball Classic exhibition on March 4. He needed 60 pitches to get through two innings in his first game action since Game 2 of the NL Wild Card Series vs. Atlanta in 2024. Musgrove's arm didn't bounce back, and he has not pitched since. "He’s most likely going to start on the IL this year," Stammen said. "We're getting to the point where he's taken enough time off that it would be hard to ramp him up to get him to be a viable starter that can throw five innings, 90 pitches. This was part of the plan. We knew he was going to have to take some time off. We knew we were going to have to get him ready for the entire season, and not just Opening Day." That leaves the Padres' rotation with three known starters: right-handers Nick Pivetta, Michael King, and Randy Vasquez. Pivetta returned to action Saturday after skipping a start due to arm fatigue. Pivetta pitched three innings, throwing 56 pitches, against the Cleveland Guardians. He would have one more Cactus League start, potentially Thursday or Friday, before the season begins. He was the top candidate for the Opening Day start entering camp. The Padres do have options to fill the void with Musgrove starting on the IL. Those begin with right-handers German Marquez and Walker Buehler. Buehler is a non-roster player, meaning he would have to be added to the 40-man roster before Opening Day. The Padres have one confirmed spot open and another with Yu Darvish not pitching this season. Stammen said he was not ready to name the slots for his starting pitchers yet. One option for the Friars, with two days off in the first eight days of the season, is to open with four starters and nine relievers. "We'll probably pick spots probably the day before Opening Day," Stammen said. "We'll wait all the way until we have to make a decision. I think it's probably smart to wait as long as you can to make decisions because you never know what can happen in between that time period. We're going to be smart, we're going to be patient, and we're going to try to make the best decision with all the information." The setback is likely to sideline Musgrove for most, if not all, of April. Another right-handed starter, Griffin Canning, is expected back in April as he continues to recover from an Achilles injury last season, when he was with the New York Mets. View full article

Can you believe we are entering the final week of spring training? In 10 days, the San Diego Padres will host two-time reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal and the Detroit Tigers at Petco Park for Opening Day. Following the Dominican Republic's 2-1 loss to the U.S. in the World Baseball Classic semifinals, the Friars will get their two superstar position players, third baseman Manny Machado and right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr., back earlier than the duo had wanted. Perhaps that is good news for the Padres, who can get a few days to do the final experimentation in setting their lineup. 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 improved to 11-11-1 in the Cactus League, beating the A's 13-9, using split squads to beat the Cleveland Guardians 8-2 and lose to the Texas Rangers 22-2, then tying the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-4. Who's Hot? 🔥 Jase Bowen The 25-year-old outfielder has been one of the feel-good stories in camp. He went 3-for-8 in back-to-back games with three extra-base hits and three RBIs. Bowen, who left the Pittsburgh Pirates as a minor-league free agent and signed with the Friars, had a pair of doubles vs. the A's and a two-run homer for the only runs against the Rangers. Manager Craig Stammen recently pointed out the immense athleticism that Bowen has as a former football player (he committed to play wide receiver at Michigan State), but said his skills are still shifting to a baseball mentality. Xander Bogaerts The starting shortstop returned from the World Baseball Classic and picked up where he left off. After going 5-for-15 with the Netherlands, Bogaerts went 2-for-2 with a run scored and an RBI in his first game since the WBC. That is good news considering Bogaerts was 2-for-12 in Cactus League play before heading to the tournament. He should be in fine shape to start the season. David Morgan The surprise of last year's bullpen has been pretty sharp this spring, his first with an MLB job in his back pocket. Morgan pitched a scoreless inning vs. the Diamondbacks, keeping his slate clean in the Cactus League. In six innings, Morgan has allowed four hits and two walks, while striking out five. The undrafted free agent who signed with the Padres in 2022 out of college will have a big role in the bullpen again this season after a strong rookie campaign. Who's Cold? 🧊 Marco Gonzales I promise I'm trying not to pick on the left-hander, but being included here is a unavoidable following the stat line he put up against the Rangers. Gonzales could only get two outs in the first inning and left down 1-0 with the bases load. Those runners came in to score for a four-run inning. Gonzales came back out for the second and gave up a homer to the first batter he faced, Brandon Nimmo, before retiring the next three hitters. In the third inning, Gonzales fell victim to needing to get in a certain number of pitches and had to wear another six runs. He gave up a total of eight hits and walked six, with only one strikeout. Logan Gillaspie A candidate to make the bullpen as a long reliever, or as Stammen is calling him and Kyle Hart, a "bridge" arm, Gillaspie followed Gonzales and had a similar fate, lasting just 2⅔ innings and coughing up nine runs on 11 hits. He walked three and struck out one. With questions at the back end of the rotation and the favorable early-season schedule, the Friars could go with four starters and nine relievers, giving Gillaspie and/or Hart a shot at the Opening Day roster. Luis Campusano The backup catcher got a couple of days off to clear his head as he endures a subpar spring, with Rodolfo Duran getting back-to-back starts. But Campusano returned to the lineup Sunday and went 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout. The offense-first catcher saw his splash line drop to .148/.233/.185. Campusano is out of minor-league options, so he will either make the Opening Day roster or be designated for assignment, with either a free agent being signed or Duran possibly making the roster and his MLB debut instead. View full article

We are turning the corner and getting ready to hit the stretch drive of spring training, whatever that is. The San Diego Padres are starting to come together. 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 are now 9-10 in Cactus League play after losing to the Texas Rangers 4-1 Monday, beating the Los Angeles Angels 10-2 Tuesday, and losing to the Kansas City Royals 10-1 in the first night game this spring. Who's Hot? 🔥 Walker Buehler On the surface, allowing two runs in 3⅔ wouldn't qualify as a good start. But it was more about the quality of the outing for the right-hander that earns him this nod. Buehler seemed to find his groove in this 68-pitch outing. While his second Tommy John surgery has dampened his four-seamer velocity, he is learning to pitch with where his stuff is now and the fact that he is finally pain-free. With right-hander Nick Pivetta battling arm fatigue, a typical spring training ramp-up ailment, and Joe Musgrove's status a little bit in doubt as he returns from his own Tommy John surgery, Buehler could find himself in the Opening Day rotation. Otherwise, he has an opt-out at the end of spring training if not on the MLB roster. Ty France The once-former-now-Padre-again infielder continues to make a strong push for a bench spot this spring. France played second and third, going 2-for-5 with a double. He did have a throwing error at third base, a position he has played multiple times this spring, but not in a regular-season game since six games in 2022. He has only played second three times in the last four seasons, but if he is to be part of the Opening Day bench, playing multiple positions will certainly help for last year's AL Gold Glove first baseman. Jeremiah Estrada The more you don't hear about guys like this right-hander, the more you know they are doing their job effectively. Estrada, a key part of the Friars' late-inning bullpen, pitched a scoreless eighth inning against the Rangers, walking one and striking out one while not allowing a hit. That kept his sheet clean this spring, having not allowed a run in five innings and yielding but one hit. He has walked six, but countered that with seven strikeouts. Who's Not? 🧊 German Marquez Expected to go four innings in his start vs. the Royals, the right-hander was yanked in the first inning due to the number of pitches, came back for the second, and couldn't get through that inning. The leading candidate for one or maybe two rotation spots, depending on injury situations, Marquez was credited with 1⅔ innings, allowing six runs on four hits and four walks while striking out just one. Only 28 of his 56 pitches were strikes. Miguel Andjuar The infielder-outfielder figures to be a key part of the lineup against left-handers. But after a strong start to Cactus League play, Andjuar has seen his slash line drop to .267/.40/.500 after going hitless in his last nine at-bats. Andjuar's status is pretty safe for Opening Day due to his track record when healthy, so this mini-swoon is nothing to be concerned with. JP Sears It was the type of outing that looked worse than it actually was. But results are results. The left-hander allowed three runs on five hits, but did go four innings, including two scoreless after being hit on the bottom of a foot by a comebacker. Sears struck out six and didn't walk anyone. Most of the contact off him wasn't hit hard, and he wasn't helped by his defense. But Sears also had allowed at least one run in all four Cactus League outings, although his ERA improved to 8.44. View full article

Manny Machado has held down the hot corner for the San Diego Padres since signing a 10-year, $300 million contract before the 2019 season. He has played third base well and, for the most part, been the player Friars fans expected when he left the Los Angeles Dodgers. He hasn't hit fewer than 27 homers, his 2025 total, in any of the full seasons since (he had 16 in 2020), being either the No. 1 or No. 2 item on the checklist for opposing pitchers to be aware of. There is veteran depth to give Machado some rest and keep his bat fresh, but there is nothing imminent in the prospect pipeline. Padres Third Basemen At A Glance Starter: Manny Machado Backup: Sung Mun Song, Miguel Andujar Depth: Jose Miranda Prospects: Jorge Quintana, Deivid Coronil Padres fWAR ranking last year: Ninth out of 30. Padres fWAR projection this year: Ninth out of 30. THE GOOD One of the anchors of the Padres' offense, Machado bounced back from a subpar, by his standards, 2023 due to a constant pain in his right elbow to put together a similar 2024 (.275/.325/.472 slash line) and 2025 (.275/.335/.460). Even the home runs (29 and 27) we nearly identical, while he drove in 105 runs in 2024 to 2025's 95, while reversing that trend when it came to runs scored (77 and 91). He earned down-ballot NL MVP votes each of those seasons. Machado enters 2026 as a 33-year-old, meaning the right-handed hitter should still be producing as the elite hitter that he has been in his career. While he might have lost a little from his 7.1 fWAR season of 2022, when he finished second in NL MVP voting following a .298/.366/.531 slash line with 32 homers and 102 RBIs, he still is an impact bat in the middle of the Padres' order. Part of the reason new manager Craig Stammen is tinkering with the top four in his lineup during spring training is to make sure that not only is the offense maximized, but that Machado has the protection he deserves. Defensively, Machado remains solid. He makes a lot of plays seem routine and never panics. Every throw seems to be a perfect chest-high toss to the first baseman. He also posts every day, having played in 150 or more games every full season (except 2023 with the ailing elbow) since 2014, when a knee injury ended his year early. With reinforcements brought in to play third base in Song and Andujar in particular, Machado could get some time off his feet and still remain in the lineup as the designated hitter, not only keeping him at the top of his game defensively, but more importantly offensively as well. THE BAD Machado turns 34 in July. He signed an 11-year, $350 million contract that began in 2023, which means he is on the books through 2033. That deal is light on the front end, with Machado having earned $17.09 million each of the last two years, increasing to $25.09 million this year and jumping to a franchise-record $39.09 next season, the figure he will make until the deal expires when he is 41 years old. The Padres certainly won't be getting MVP-caliber performances for the final eight years of that contract, but he has also been underpaid the last three seasons and will be this year, too. The Friars are hoping to get another three or four good seasons out of Machado offensively before any decline starts to take place. He struck out 131 times in 2025, two shy off his career worst in 2022. How that affects him defensively is something else to consider, but that is a discussion to be had down the road. For now, Machado is easily the best defensive option at the hot corner. THE BOTTOM LINE Machado is the present and the future at third base until he proves he can't handle the position, at which time he either moves to first base, left field or DH. But again, that is at least a few years away. Machado's fewest games at third base with the Padres and playing for a full season was the 100 he played in 2023, when he DH 51 times. What that target number is this year is probably somewhere close to that number in both spots. How that transpires could depend on how Song, who played in the Korea Baseball Organization until signing with the Padres this offseason, adapts to MLB pitching or if Andujar remains healthy enough to see some time at the position. Miranda is a safety net who is likely to begin at Triple-A El Paso if he doesn't have an opt-out at the end of spring training. View full article

Representatives for four groups still in the running to purchase the San Diego Padres visited the team's spring training complex in Peoria, Ariz., this week. According to a report by Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune on Friday, the new target for completing a sale by the Seidler family is by the end of April. Acee reported the sale price is now expected to be at least $2.5 billion with the potential to go over $3 billion. The current record for the purchase of an MLB team is $2.42 billion by Steve Cohen for the New York Mets in 2020. Five groups had submitted initial bids by late February. None of the four finalists has been publicly named. Previously, the reported contenders included Jose E. Feliciano, whose ClearLake Capital is based in Santa Monica and holds ownership stake in the soccer team Chelsea of the English Premier League; San DIego-born Dan Friedkin, CEO of The Friedkin Group that owns auto dealerships and hotels, while he also has ownership shares of soccer teams Everton in the EPL and Roma in Serie A; and Joe Lacob, owner of the NBA's Golden State Warriors and WNBA's Golden State Valkyries. Another entity, Vuori founder Joe Kudla and former San Diego Chargers quarterback Drew Brees, were thought to be another group trying to buy the Padres, but that was later clarified to state that those two would be helping another group in their bid for the Friars. Kudla is a graduate of the University of San Diego, and Vuori is headquartered in Carlsbad. Brees has been seen over the years as a fan at Petco Park. The Seidler family announced in mid-November that it would put the Padres up for sale. This came after Peter Seider died in November 2024. Following the resolution of legal issues between Seidler's brothers and his widow, the bid process officially began. According to the Union-Tribune, the family owns less than 50% of the team, including a 24% stake that is held by Peter Seidler's trust. Peter Seidler's widow, Sheel Seidler, and their three children are the beneficiaries of the trust. The remaining portion of ownership is between 10 and 12 other entities that are minority owners. Peter Seidler and Ron Fowler led a group that bought the Padres in 2012 for $800 million. View full article

Padres Mission's countdown of the top 20 San Diego Padres prospects, as voted on by our staff writers, continues with deeper profiles on the top 10 entering the 2026 season. Check out prior entries in the ranking here: No. 7: Humberto Cruz No. 8: Ty Harvey No. 9: Ryan Wideman No. 10: Kale Fountain Nos. 11-15 Nos. 16-20 No. 6: Jagger Haynes (San Antonio Missions) Coming out of a small North Carolina high school in the abbreviated 2020 draft, the Padres selected left-handed starter Jagger Haynes with their final pick, taking him in the fifth round. Due to trades, Haynes is the lone member of that class still with the Friars. Haynes comes from the same remote area of North Carolina where the Padres found MacKenzie Gore. Year Age AgeDif Tm Lg Lev Aff W L W-L% ERA RA9 G GS GF CG SHO SV IP H R ER HR BB IBB SO HBP BK WP BF WHIP H9 HR9 BB9 SO9 SO/W 2023 20 -1.9 Lake Elsinore CALL A SDP 0 3 .000 3.91 4.62 11 11 0 0 0 0 25.1 22 13 11 2 12 0 29 1 2 1 109 1.342 7.8 0.7 4.3 10.3 2.42 2024 21 -2.1 Fort Wayne MIDW A+ SDP 2 6 .250 4.64 4.80 23 22 1 0 0 0 110.2 90 59 57 11 66 0 114 6 0 7 475 1.410 7.3 0.9 5.4 9.3 1.73 2025 22 -2.5 San Antonio TL AA SDP 3 4 .429 4.11 4.81 26 25 0 0 0 0 103.0 83 55 47 12 62 0 101 7 2 13 443 1.408 7.3 1.0 5.4 8.8 1.63 All Levels (3 Seasons) 5 13 .278 4.33 4.78 60 58 1 0 0 0 239.0 195 127 115 25 140 0 244 14 4 21 1027 1.402 7.3 0.9 5.3 9.2 1.74 Now 23, Haynes' pro career got off to a slow start after he had Tommy John surgery, so his debut didn't come until the start of the 2023 season at Low-A Lake Elsinore. That season was slowed by blister and shoulder issues, but he did put up a 3.91 ERA in 11 starts, although he only logged 25 1/3 innings. But he came back strong in 2024. At High-A Fort Wayne, Haynes was healthy enough to appear in 23 games, all but one a start. While the numbers left a little to be desired (4.64 ERA, 1.41 WHIP), the fact he was able to go 110⅔ innings was definitely a positive. He walked 5.4 per nine innings and struck out 9.3. Haynes followed that up with a better 2025 at Double-A San Antonio. In 26 appearances (25 starts), Haynes had a 4.11 ERA and 1.408 WHIP, walking 5.4 per nine innings and striking out 8.8 in 103 innings. The velocity was back for Haynes in 2025, but he still only sat at 91-94 with his four-seam fastball after the pitch was listed at 94 mph coming out of high school. He also throws a sinker, a changeup, and a slider, the latter appearing to be a very effective pitch. The sinker is a pitch that he has developed since turning pro. Walks are definitely an issue, something that he will need to improve upon to make his way to the majors. His career hits per nine (7.3) is solid, but with his softer stuff, limiting hard contact would also increase his chances. Haynes should be moved up to Triple-A El Paso this season, even though he might face a better quality of competition by returning to San Antonio. That is just the natural progression, especially in the aggressive-promotion Padres system, that makes sense. Not that this would necessarily be an aggressive promotion — Haynes is facing a big season relative to service time. He was left unprotected this offseason for the Rule 5 Draft. Even a decent year would force the Friars' hand to put him on the 40-man roster next offseason, leading to the hope that he'll potentially make his MLB debut in 2027. If his numbers don't show progress as a starter, the Padres may experiment with how the stuff plays in a relief role. View full article

A really deep San Diego Padres bullpen just got a wee bit thinner. Right-hander Bryan Hoeing, a candidate to make the Opening Day roster, will miss the entire 2026 season after deciding to have surgery to repair the flexor tendon in his right arm, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reported Thursday. This comes after the 29-year-old was limited to just seven MLB appearances and 18 in the minors in 2025 due to elbow and shoulder issues. Hoeing was shut down about two weeks ago after experiencing elbow discomfort. He will be put on the injured list before Opening Day and moved to the 60-day IL when the Padres need space on the 40-man roster, which currently sits at 39. Right-handed starter Yu Darvish, who is negotiating a buyout of his contract after having an internal brace procedure on his right UCL, will also need to be put on the 60-day IL. Typical recovery for flexor tendon surgery is nine months, meaning Hoeing should be good to go next spring training. Acquired from the Miami Marlins at the 2024 trade deadline, Hoeing pitched in 18 games for the Friars that season, with a 3.38 FIP (1.52 ERA), with 5.8% walk rate and 20.9% strikeout rate in 20⅔ innings. Hoeing will be arbitration-eligible for the first time this offseason. View full rumor

When spring training started, the San Diego Padres could pencil in three names to their 2026 starting rotation for Opening Day: Nick Pivetta, Michael King and Joe Musgrove. The other two spots? A few question marks. At that time, barring anything unforeseen, Musgrove was the only one with slight concerns about his status, as the right-hander was coming off Tommy John surgery, which took place after making his lone postseason start in October 2024. The timeframe of him returning from the procedure to the Friars' active roster made it very possible that March 26 vs. the Detroit Tigers was in play. But every road has a slight curve(ball). Now, as we sit two weeks from Opening Day at Petco Park, the normal things that happen in spring training are happening to the Padres' starting rotation. And it begins with Java Joe's status. Following his start last week in a World Baseball Classic exhibition against Great Britain, his first appearance in a game this spring, Musgrove hasn't recovered as expected, with the Friars giving him extra time before making his second start. Teams usually ease pitchers back into action following Tommy John surgery, but Musgrove threw 60 pitches vs. Great Britain. Several days later, Musgrove said of his right arm: "It feels like I had surgery." It is not unusual for any pitcher, much less one coming back from a significant surgery, to experience arm issues in spring training. Right-hander Nick Pivetta, the presumed Opening Day starter, had his start Sunday skipped due to arm fatigue, but threw a "touch and go" bullpen Tuesday. He has another bullpen session scheduled for Thursday. Presuming that goes well, Pivetta will return to the rotation over the weekend. So, where does all of this leave the Padres' starting rotation? King is still a lock as he appears fully healthy after being limited to 15 starts in 2025 due to a rare nerve issue in his right shoulder and then knee inflammation. Fellow right-hander Randy Vasquez has been the best starter this spring, putting a stranglehold on his place in the rotation. Provided Pivetta comes out of Thursday's bullpen fine and keeps making starts in spring training, that is three spots spoken for. Right-hander German Marquez, the former Colorado Rockies ace signed as camp started, has turned in a solid first two appearances this spring and is the default option having signed a major-league contract. That leaves it up to Musgrove's status to determine the final starter. With right-hander Griffin Canning, like Marquez signed to a major-league contract, still making his way back from a ruptured left Achilles sustained in June and ticketed for the injured list to begin the season, the next logical candidate is former Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Walker Buehler. Signed to a minor-league contract, Buehler has been encouraging in his first two starts this spring. He recently said he was pain-free following his own Tommy John surgery that affected how he pitched last year for the Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies. His pedigree, as long as his stuff holds up, would fit very nicely into the Friars' starting give. If not, Buehler does have the ability to opt-out of his contract if not included on the Opening Day roster. Another option, if Musgrove is able to go Opening Day but not quite built up to where he needs to be, would be carrying an extra starter. This would bode well for someone like left-hander Kyle Hart, who has been building up his innings this spring as a "bridge" reliever, as first-year manager Craig Stammen said. Hart's chances are also bolstered if another left-hander, Yuki Matsui, is not available by Opening Day due to his strained left groin. Regardless, the Friars seem to be in a decent position to absorb whatever happens to Musgrove and Pivetta between now and Opening Day. View full article

After surprisingly receiving a major-league contract this offseason, right-hander Daison Acosta is headed back to the minors before the season begins. The San Diego Padres announced Monday that the 27-year-old reliever had cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A El Paso. It had not been previously known that it had been designated for assignment. This leaves the Padres' 40-man roster at 39. Also, catcher Ethan Salas, the Friars' top position player prospect, was reassigned to minor-league camp. Salas had been a non-roster invitee to major-league camp. Acosta, who signed a one-year contract for the MLB minimum of $780,000 in early December, has spent his previous eight seasons in the minors, the first six with the New York Mets and the last two with the Washington Nationals. The Padres gave him that deal after Acosta finished the season with a 0.90 ERA in 26 games, striking out 46 in 30 innings at Double-A. But that came after he opened the season at Triple-A and put up a 5.57 ERA in 19 games. It could portend an outside addition or adding a non-roster player to the 40-man roster. The Friars also have another 40-man move to make before Opening Day, with Yu Darvish not pitching this season. View full rumor

While the key players at the World Baseball Classic won't be returning for a while, things are heating up at San Diego Padres camp. Some players continue to make a push to be on the Opening Day roster, which figures to lead to some tough decisions for new manager Craig Stammen and president of baseball operations A.J. Preller. 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 improved to 8-8 in Cactus League play, beating the Chicago Cubs 3-0 Friday, losing to the Cleveland Guardians 7-1 Saturday and beating the Cincinnati Reds 14-3 Sunday. Who's Hot at Padres Camp? 🔥 Nick Castellanos: Going 1-for-3 in two Cactus League games might not mean a whole lot, but the probable Opening Day first baseman (at least as part of a platoon) showed that his offense is coming along. Castellanos had an RBI single in the third inning off Cubs right-hander Ben Brown, then drew two walks in his three plate appearances against the Reds. His spring average is up to .318 (7-for-22) and he has now walked one more time than he has struck out (5-4). That is the type of look the Friars would be looking for from a potential No. 5 hitter in the lineup. Logan Gillaspie and Kyle Hart: I had them individually here in the last version of this feature, but since they pitched back-to-back Sunday and turned in very nice outings, I am combining them this time around. Gillaspie, a right-hander, started and stretched out to four innings against the Reds and still has yet to allow a run over 7⅔ innings this spring. He did walk two and only struck out a pair after having back-to-back outings with three strikeouts. Hart, a left-hander, came in for 2⅔ scoreless innings, facing the minimum and striking out three. Like Gillaspie, he hasn't allowed a run this spring, going 8⅔ innings. Jackson Merrill: The center fielder, looking to shake off a his injury-marred 2025 season, has five hits in his last 11 at-bats. That includes having two doubles in three at-bats vs. the Reds and scoring once. While the Padres figure out how their top four hitters will slot in, Merrill regaining his rookie form will go a long way toward making the offense much more productive. Who's Not? 🧊 Luis Campusano: Coming back to Campusano in the cold section isn't easy, especially considering I take spring training results with a grain of salt. But when a guy's primary contribution is with his bat and his exhibition average drops to .143 with Opening Day 17 days away, this starts to become a concern. Campusano started two of the three games and went 1-for-6, which is actually higher (.167) than his spring average. He is making contact, lining out, grounding out and flying out with similar exit velocities, so it could be a simple funk that just takes one good game to break out of. Gavin Sheets: Could Sunday have been significant for the slugging first baseman? The left-handed hitter smashed his first homer of the spring and it couldn't have come at a better time. Sheets has been scuffling this spring, entering the game 3-for-15 (.200) before roping a 97.7 mph four-seamer from Reds right-hander Chase Burns for a two-run homer, his first of the spring. With how some other candidates have been performing, there could have been some small rumbles about Sheets' roster spot, but this will calm that down for now. Mason McCoy: Getting starts at second and shortstop, McCoy isn't hitting his way onto this roster as of now. After going 0-for-6 in those two games, McCoy is now down to a .143 spring average (3-for-21), although he does have a double and triple in there. McCoy is a true shortstop, which is his path to a bench role, but with what other players bring offensively, that probably isn't enough to get him to San Diego come Opening Day. View full article

While there was a lot to enjoy in a 27-6 shellacking of the Seattle Mariners in a Cactus League game Thursday, the San Diego Padres are looking for good news after infielder Song Mun Song left the game early. Song, who started at shortstop and homered in his first plate appearance, left after striking out in the second inning after aggravating an oblique injury sustained in the offseason, only slightly delaying his start to spring camp. Padres manager Craig Stammen said removing Song from the game was "precautionary," and the team was awaiting test results to determine the extent of the injury. Signed in the offseason from the Korea Baseball Organization, Song is expected to be a utility player in his first MLB season, seeing time at second base, third base, and perhaps the outfield. The Padres also made their second set of roster cuts, sending eight players back to minor-league camp. A ninth, right-hander Miguel Mendez, was optioned to Double-A San Antonio, making him the first player on the 40-man roster removed from camp. Right-handers Sean Boyle, Evan Fitterer, Francis Pena, and Ethan Routzahn, infielders Marcos Castanonon and Romeo Sanabria, infielder-outfielder Clay Dungan, and catcher Brendan Durfee were reassigned to the minor-league camp after being non-roster invitees. The Friars now have 58 players in major-league camp. View full rumor

San Diego Padres 27, Seattle Mariners 6. The final score on Thursday looked more like a Chargers-Seahawks NFL game than a Padres-Mariners MLB matchup. But those things tend to happen in spring training. And that came with Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr., and Xander Bogaerts not around, instead getting ready for their first games today in the World Baseball Classic. 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 news, not necessarily hardcore analysis. The Friars improved to 6-7 in Cactus League play after losing to the A's 7-2 Monday, beating the Chicago White Sox 4-3 Tuesday, tying Great Britain 2-2 Wednesday in a WBC exhibition, and clobbering the Mariners 27-6 Thursday. Who's Hot? 🔥 Joe Musgrove If you want to talk about a meaningless game that can give a boost to an entire team, this was it. And it was because Java Joe was back on the mound for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery in October 2024. Musgrove's first inning was a little rough, but that could be because it wasn't his regular defense behind him. Facing Great Britain in a World Baseball Classic exhibition, Musgrove walked Nate Eaton (Boston Red Sox), then struck out Jazz Chisholm Jr. (New York Yankees) before yielding three straight singles and a run. He was taken out at that point and, under spring training rules, returned to pitch the second inning, allowing another hit, and came out to face three batters in the third, surrendering one final hit while getting two outs, finishing with a strikeout. Only 36 of his 60 pitches were strikes, but the results weren't what mattered; it was Musgrove being back on the mound. Kyle Hart A candidate to make the Opening Day bullpen if Yuki Matsui is unable to go, Hart threw 2 ⅔ more scoreless innings against the White Sox and hasn't yielded a run in four spring appearances. He did issue two walks in this outing, but that has been the rare blemish thus far. Hart has mainly been a starter in his pro career, but a long relief role could also be a ticket to make his first Opening Day roster at the MLB level. Logan Gillaspie A dark-horse candidate for the bullpen, the right-hander spun 2 ⅔ perfect innings against the A's, striking out three. He has 12 relief appearances over the last two seasons with the Friars after 28 in two seasons with the Baltimore Orioles. Gillaspie had a scoreless inning with three strikeouts in his other Cactus League outing this year. With a loaded bullpen, making the Opening Day roster could be a challenge, but Gillaspie could be one of the first relievers called upon when injuries hit. Freddy Fermin With the onslaught against the Mariners, it would be ridiculous not to include a hitter here. Fermin gets the headline with a 3-for-3, six-RBI performance, highlighted by a three-run homer in a five-run third inning off Triple-A reliever Alex Hoppe. That outburst came after the Friars erupted for 12 runs in the second inning. They sent 17 hitters to the plate, with six of the runs coming against Mariners right-hander Luis Castillo and the other half against minor-leaguers. The Padres hit eight homers in the game. Who's Not? 🧊 Triston McKenzie The right-hander's long-shot bid to join the rotation took another hit with his outing against the Mariners. After a scoreless seventh inning, he was tagged for a leadoff homer by Jared Sundstrom, who spent last year at Double-A, then retired the following two hitters before yielding a single and walking a pair to bring his day to an end. Those walks added to a troubling trend for McKenzie. He has faced 26 batters this spring, with seven walks. Pablo Reyes Before going 2-for-4 in the back half of the game against the Mariners (which Friars didn't get a hit in this game?), the infielder-outfielder had been 0-for-5 in the previous three games with a walk and an RBI. That dropped his spring performance to 2-for-14 (.143). He was a dark-horse candidate to earn the last bench job due to his ability to play shortstop (as well as the outfield). He started at short in the WBC exhibition game, going 0-for-3. Clay Dungan Another long shot to snag that final bench job, the 29-year-old, who spent last season at Triple-A El Paso, got a long look this spring. He played in 10 games, including coming off the bench against the Mariners, but only went 3-for-17 (.176) with an RBI, while walking once and striking out eight times. He was reassigned after Thursday's game to minor-league camp, but could be an infield option if injuries hit. View full article

Padres Mission's countdown of the top 20 San Diego Padres prospects, as voted on by our staff writers, continues with deeper profiles on the top 10 entering the 2026 season. Check out previous editions of these rankings here: No. 10: Kale Fountain Nos. 11-15 Nos. 16-20 No. 9 Ryan Wideman (Lake Elsinore Storm) After one season at Western Kentucky, the San Diego Padres selected center fielder Ryan Wideman in the third round of the 2025 draft. Wideman had spent the two previous years in junior college at Georgia Highlands and then became the Conference USA Player of the Year at Western Kentucky. The 22-year-old son of former Clemson men's basketball player Tom Wideman is very toolsy. He can definitely hit for average, posting a .398/.466/.652 slash line in his lone season (60 games) at Western Kentucky after a .423/.488/.724 in 115 Juco games. He also brings a big speed aspect, stealing 48 bases in 2024 and then 45 in 2025. Besides those two traits, many onlookers feel that his power potential is untapped due in part to a 6-foot-4, 204-pound frame. Wideman had 10 homers at Western Kentucky after 22 in two Juco seasons. After being selected, he reported to Low A Lake Elsinore and had a .229/.330/.271 slash line in 26 games, with no homers and 12 RBIs with 11 steals in 12 tries. The concern with Wideman offensively is how he adjusts to pro pitching. His grounder and chase rates were among the worst in Division I. The Padres will need to help Wideman hone in his approach at the plate, perhaps eliminating a big leg kick. After striking out 47 times in 283 plate appearances (16.6%) at Western Kentucky, he went down 32 times in 112 plate appearances (28.6%) at Lake Elsinore. He had a 40% chase rate in college in 2025 and 35% with the Storm. Defensively, Wideman has the speed and the range to track down any ball in center field, but needs to improve his routes to the ball, something that can be smoothed over as a pro. While he has an average arm, his legs will keep him in center. A return to Lake Elsinore and the California League seems pretty obvious in order to put the changes made in the offseason and spring training into action. With the investment of a third-round pick, at least a round or two higher than projected, Wideman will get time to prove himself. If things click early and the Padres like what they are seeing, a promotion to High-A Fort Wayne will be waiting. His tools are easy to dream on, especially if he puts together a 25-homer season, which seems very reachable based on his college performance. It would not be out of bounds to project a 25-homer, 70-steal season while playing the premium position of center field if absolutely everything clicks. But that only comes if he is able to smooth out the rough patches at the plate. View full article