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      Steve Drumwright

       

       

      Looking for a jolt in their moribund offense, the San Diego Padres are dipping down into the minors for some help.

      Outfielder Jase Bowen is set to be called up from Triple-A El Paso by the Padres to make his MLB debut before Tuesday's series opening against the Philadelphia Phillies, ESPN's Kiley McDaniel reported Monday. A corresponding move to get Bowen on the 26-man and 40-man rosters will be needed.

      The 25-year-old Bowen has been one of the Chihuahuas' best hitters all season, posting a slash line of .292/.362/.600 with 13 homers and 36 RBIs. His 13 homers are second in the Pacific Coast League and his 36 RBIs are tied for the team lead with Mason McCoy. Bowen notched his 13th home in Sunday's 8-7 loss to the Albuquerque Isotopes. Bowen also has seven steals in 11 chances.

      Bowen ranks in the top five in the PCL not only in homers, but in slugging percentage (.362), triples (5), extra-base hits (29), total hits (57) and runs (48).

      The Padres rank last in MLB with a .218 batting average and next-to-last with a .656 OPS.

      An 11th-round draft choice by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2019 out of Central Catholic High School in Toledo, Ohio, the two-sport star turned down a football scholarship to Michigan State, where he would have been a wide receiver, to sign. Bowen joined the Padres this offseason on a minor-league contract after becoming a six-year free agent.

      In spring training, Bowen tied for the team lead with four homers and drove in 11 while also stealing a team-high seven bases.

      Who Bowen takes over for is another question. The Padres could opt to send infielder Sung Mun Song back down to Triple-A. Song has been a backup and late-inning defensive replacement at second base since Jake Cronenworth went on the seven-day concussion list May 5. It is not known when Cronenworth might return. Fernando Tatis Jr., the Platinum Glove right fielder, has been starting most of the time at second base. Two other possibilities are in the outfield. One would be a simple swap of Bowen for Bryce Johnson, the current backup outfielder. The other would solve both roster issues: designating Nick Castellanos for assignment.

       

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      The Lucas Giolito era with the San Diego Padres is here.

      The Padres called up Giolito, a right-handed starter, from Double-A San Antonio to make his season debut with Sunday's start vs. the Seattle Mariners. Right-hander Alek Jacob was optioned to Triple-A El Paso to make room.

      Giolito was already on the Padres' 40-man roster after signing with the team April 22 for one year and $2.8 million. Since Giolito was not injured, he was optioned to the minors to get ready to join the rotation.

      Also, right-hander Jhony Brito began a rehab assignment at Double-A.

      The 31-year-old Giolito was the last of the major free agents from the offseason to sign and joins a Padres rotation that needs an upgrade. Following the injuries and setbacks to right-handers Nick Pivetta and Joe Musgrove, the Friars have mostly done fine in muddling through the first quarter of the season, but Giolito brings quality to the rotation.

      With the Boston Red Sox last season, Giolito posted a 3.41 ERA in 26 starts and 141 innings in which he had a 9.1% walk rate and 19.7% strikeout rate. Giolito missed all of the 2024 season following Tommy John surgery and didn't make his season debut until the end of April

      The Padres also had right-hander Matt Waldron go on the 15-day IL Friday with a right brachialis muscle injury. Waldron apparently had been dealing with the injury for the last few weeks but did not tell the team about it with his roster spot in jeopardy. Waldron replaced Pivetta, the Opening Day starter, in the rotation.

      Giolito made four starts in the minors, two with Low-A Lake Elsinore and two with Double-A San Antonio. Between the four, he pitched 17 innings and had a 4.76 ERA, allowing 11 runs (nine earned) on 18 hits with six walks and 18 strikeouts.

      Jacob came up Friday and pitched in Saturday's 7-4 victory over the Mariners, allowing two runs without recording an out. It was his second one-game call-up this year.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      Right-hander Matt Waldron will not be pitching out of the San Diego Padres' bullpen this weekend. Instead, he will be sitting on the injured list.

      The Padres on Friday placed Waldron on the 15-day IL with a right brachialis muscle injury. Right-handed reliever Alek Jacob was called up from Triple-A El Paso. The brachialis muscle is a muscle located in the upper arm under the biceps and the injury is typically called climber's elbow from its repetitive use.

      Waldron's spot on the roster was in jeopardy with the impending addition of right-handed starter Lucas Giolito, who signed with the Padres last month and is set to start perhaps Saturday, when he needs to be added to the MLB roster per language in his contract.

      Waldron started Tuesday's series opener vs. the Milwaukee Brewers, but gave up six runs on eight hits and two walks in 2⅔ innings. He then came on in relief Thursday, pitching two scoreless innings. Manager Craig Stammen said after Thursday's game that Waldron would be in the bullpen this weekend vs. the Seattle Mariners. In six games this year, two coming as the bulk pitcher following an opener, Waldron has an 8.49 ERA with seven walks and 22 strikeouts over 23⅓ innings. Waldron had replaced injured Opening Day starter Nick Pivetta in the rotation.

      Waldron is out of minor-league options, which is why his roster status within the organization is so precarious. This now keeps Waldron, who started the season on the 15-day IL following hemorrhoid surgery in spring training, in the organization for the foreseeable future.

      Jacob was up for a couple days in mid-April and appeared in just one game, throwing two shutout innings.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      The Alex Verdugo era with the San Diego Padres never had a chance to take off.

      The Padres on Monday released the outfielder. Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune said the left shoulder injury that Verdugo had sustained about a month ago will require surgery, which would sideline him the entire season.

      Verdugo signed a minor-league contract with the Padres at the beginning of March, perhaps with a chance to eventually contribute to the major-league roster. But that never materialized.

      The 29-year-old was released by Atlanta in July after posting a slash line of .239/.296/.289 with no homers and 12 RBIs. He didn't play in a minor-league game with the Padres.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      The San Diego Padres are losing half of their catching tandem due to a broken toe.

      Catcher Luis Campusano was placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday by the Padres with a fractured toe on his left foot. Catcher Rodolfo Duran was called up from Triple-A El Paso and will be making his MLB debut tonight after 11 seasons in the minors. Duran is starting at catcher and batting ninth in the series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals.

      Right-handed starter Joe Musgrove (right elbow inflammation) was transferred from the 15-day to the 60-day injured list to make room for Duran on the 40-man roster. The move is simply procedural from Musgrove's perspective as he isn't close to returning to the active roster.

      Also, infielder Will Wagner was activated from the 10-day injured list and optioned to El Paso, where he had been on a rehab assignment following a strained right oblique in spring training.

      Campusano fouled a ball off his foot in Tuesday's 10-5 win over the San Francisco Giants. He has been a surprisingly significant contributor to the Padres' offense while splitting time with Freddy Fermin. Campusano has a slash line of .288/.362/.596 with three homers and 10 RBIs in 18 games.

      Campusano has had the reputation of an offense-first catcher, but with questionable defense. That second part hasn't shown itself through the first month-plus of the season.

      The 28-year-old Duran is in his second season with the Padres at El Paso. He has a slash line of .238/.356/.429 with four homers and 20 RBIs in 23 games this season. A year ago, he posted a .288/.344/.503 slash line with 16 homers and 73 RBIs in 86 games.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      Yuki Matsui is finally back with the San Diego Padres. But Jake Cronenworth is out for a brief period.

      Matsui, the left-handed reliever, who has been out since spring training with a strained left groin, was activated off the 15-day injured list Tuesday, while Cronenworth, the starting second baseman, went on the seven-day concussion list. Left-handed reliever Kyle Hart was optioned to Triple-A El Paso and infielder Sung-Mun Song was called up.

      We have made the following roster moves:

      [image or embed]

      — San Diego Padres (@padres-mlbbot.bsky.social) May 5, 2026 at 2:30 PM

      Cronenworth's concussion is the most surprising of these moves. He did not appear to be injured in Monday's series opener against the San Francisco Giants.

      Matsui had seemed close to being ready for Opening Day during spring training, but he did not appear in a Cactus League game. So he began the season on the 15-day injured list and began a rehab assignment with the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas a week later.

      At El Paso, Matsui made 11 appearances, allowing seven runs on 17 hits with three walks and 14 strikeouts in 17⅔ innings. In two of his final three games, he went two innings. In his two years in MLB, Matsui has a 3.86 ERA in 125 appearances, with an 11.3% walk rate and 24.6% strikeout rate.

      Song was called up as the extra player for the two-game Mexico City Series two weekends ago, but made only one pinch-running appearance. He was still recovering from an oblique injury at the start of the season and, once healthy, there wasn't room for him on the major-league roster, so he was optioned to El Paso. Now, he will fill in for Cronenworth at second base and make a case for him to remain on the roster. In 25 games at El Paso, Song had a .293/.364/.354 with one homer and 15 RBIs. His homer came in Sunday's game for the Chihuahuas.

      Hart had a 5.40 ERA in 12 appearances, walking six and striking out 10 in 16⅔ innings.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      One new guy is set to debut, while another is on the shelf for a bit.

      The San Diego Padres activated right-hander Griffin Canning from the 15-day injured list before Sunday's start against the Chicago White Sox, while right-handed starter German Marquez went on the 15-day IL with nerve inflammation in his right forearm

      Canning has not pitched since rupturing his left Achilles in June while with the New York Mets. He signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the Padres as spring training began and made five rehab appearances with Triple-A El Paso.

      With the Mets last year, Canning had a 4.04 FIP (3.77 ERA) in 76⅓ innings, with a 10.7% walk rate and 21.3% strikeout rate.

      Marquez has had a rocky start to his Padres career. He signed for one-year, $1.75 million at the same time as Canning did after a 10-year career with the Colorado Rockies. In six starts this year, Marquez has a 6.69 FIP (5.76 ERA) with 12 walks and 19 strikeouts in 29⅔ innings.

      Marquez started Friday and was roughed up by the Chicago White Sox, allowing seven runs on five hits with five walks and two strikeouts in five innings.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      Jeremiah Estrada's stay on the injured list wasn't very long.

      The right-handed reliever was activated from the 15-day injured list Friday by the San Diego Padres, who formally announced right-handed reliever David Morgan being optioned to Triple-A El Paso, which happened Thursday.

      Estrada, a vital piece of the Friars' bullpen, had been on the IL since April 10 with tendinitis in his right elbow. He made just two rehab appearances, one last Friday for Low-A Lake Elsinore and another Tuesday for El Paso. Estrada pitched one inning in each appearance and didn't allow a hit or a run, walking one and striking out two combined.

      Estrada's velocity, which in part led to his IL placement, was back to its regular upper 90s after being about 5 mph slower before going on the IL.

      Activating Estrada still leaves left-hander Yuki Matsui on the verge of returning from his strained left groin. Matsui's rehab assignment started April 4, meaning it runs through this weekend before expiring.

       

      Steve Drumwright

      After the season he put together in 2025, David Morgan was hoping he had seen the last of El Paso. Unfortunately, he is headed back there after the first month of the 2026 season.

      The San Diego Padres optioned the right-handed reliever to the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas on Thursday following a rough start to the season.

      The Padres will need to make a corresponding move before Friday's series opener against the Chicago White Sox. That is likely to be activating left-handed reliever Yuki Matsui off the 15-day injured list, with another possibility being activating right-handed reliever Jeremiah Estrada.

      Morgan was a surprise in the Padres' bullpen in 2025, appearing in 41 games with a 3.71 FIP (2.66 ERA) in 47⅓ innings following his first call-up to MLB. He had been an undrafted free agent who signed with the Padres in 2022 after finishing his career at Hope International University in Fullerton.

      But this year was a different story. In 11 appearances over 13⅓ innings, Morgan had a 5.74 FIP (6.30 ERA), including 11 walks and 15 strikeouts. His 11 walks are nearly half of what he issued last year (23). His latest outing came in Tuesday's 8-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs in which he allowed a run on a hit and a walk with one strikeout in two-thirds of an inning. He came on with runners on first and second with one out in a 2-2 game in the top of the sixth and threw a wild pitch and gave up a go-ahead two-out two-run double to Nico Hoerner.

      Matsui went on the IL on March 25 with a strained groin and began a rehab assignment April 4. That assignment is due to end this weekend. He has allowed six runs on 10 hits with two walks and 13 strikeouts in 10⅔ innings for a 5.06 ERA at El Paso. He pitched multiple innings for the first time Sunday and followed that up with a one-inning appearance Wednesday.

      Estrada had made only two appearances, one at Low-A Lake Elsinore on Friday and the other with El Paso on Tuesday, as he recovers from right elbow tendinitis. He went on the IL on April 10.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      Sung-Mun Song is finally getting his chance.

      After a spring training interrupted by a second oblique injury that cost him a spot on the Opening Day roster, the South Korean infielder was called up by the San Diego Padres on Saturday to make his MLB debut this weekend. Song is the extra player for the two-game Mexico City Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks and will have to be returned to Triple-A El Paso following Sunday's game, barring an injury to a position player.

      The 29-year-old Song, a key signing in the offseason, was close to being able to start the season with the Padres, but he still needed some at-bats and was put on the 15-day injured list. He started a rehab assignment with El Paso and spent the maximum 20 days there. With no room on the 26-man roster and no one underperforming, Song was optioned to Triple-A.

      Song has done well at El Paso, with a slash line of .293/.369/.320 with no homers and 12 RBIs in 20 games. He has not attempted a stolen base. Now Song will get a chance to make his MLB debut in the high altitude of Mexico City.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      It is official: Matt Waldron is back.

      As has been expected since Opening Day starter Nick Pivetta went on the injured list Tuesday, Waldron was activated from the 15-day injured list in order to start Friday's series opener against the Los Angeles Angels. Right-handed reliever Alek Jacob, who came up from Triple-A when Pivetta went on the IL, was sent back to El Paso.

      Waldron had been a candidate to make the Friars' rotation out of spring training, but that was interrupted when he required hemorrhoid surgery on Feb. 24. He was back pitching a couple weeks later, but with the additions of right-handed starters Walker Buehler and German Marquez, the Padres could slow play Waldron's return by putting him on the IL to start the season.

      Waldron has been on a rehab assignment at El Paso since the Triple-A season began and has performed very well. He made three starts for the Chihuahuas, tossing 12 scoreless innings, giving up seven hits and a walk against 12 strikeouts. Waldron's stay on the roster will depend on how well he performs as he is out of minor-league options.

      Jacob appeared in one of the three games he was active for, throwing two scoreless innings in Wednesday's 7-6 comeback victory over the Seattle Mariners.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      The success of Ty France has left no room for Sung-Mun Song on the San Diego Padres' roster.

      As such, with Song's rehab assignment having expired, the infielder from South Korea was activated from the 10-day injured list and optioned to Triple-A El Paso.

      Song had reinjured his oblique in spring training following an offseason incident in mid-January. That landed him on the injured list to begin the season. He ramped up at El Paso, playing second base, third base and shortstop. In 16 games on the rehab assignment, which began March 27, Song posted a .276/.364/.310 slash line with no home runs and 10 RBIs.

      He was signed to a four-year, $15 million contract in December following nine seasons in the Korea Baseball Organization and looked at as the primary infield backup going into spring training. Song opened eyes the last two years with slash lines of .340/.409/.518 in 2024 and .315/.387/.530 in 2025. He combined for 45 homers and 46 stolen bases in those two seasons.

      France, the former San Diego State star, earned the last bench spot with his strong spring, then has continued that into the regular season. France, who started his career with the Padres in 2019, is slashing .273/.333/.455 with one homer and one RBI while playing in eight of the Friars' 18 games. The reigning AL Gold Glove first baseman is somewhat limited positionally, though, which is a big reason why right fielder and former shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. played second base in back-to-back games over the weekend. France can play second or third, but is not very strong defensively there.

       

      Steve Drumwright

      The San Diego Padres could have a new owner as soon as next week.

      According to a report Thursday by Dennis Lin of The Athletic, the Seidler family is nearing a decision among a group of four suitors. The sale is expected to be for at least $3.5 million, which would eclipse the previous record for an MLB team of $2.42 million by Steve Cohen for the New York Mets in 2020.

      The four bidders are two owners of English Premier League men's soccer teams, Chelsea's Jose A. Feliciano and Everton's Dan Friedkin, and two NBA owners, Tom Gores of the Detroit Pistons and Joe Lacob of the Golden State Warriors and WNBA's Golden State Valkyries.

      The Athletic reported that each submitted final bids this week.

      The Padres were recently valued at $3.1 billion by Forbes, up from $1.9 billion a year ago.

      Peter Seidler, whose death in November 2024 set off this process, and Ron Fowler bought the Padres in 2012 for $800 million.

      Steve Drumwright

       

      The anticipated bad news became official Tuesday: Nick Pivetta is on the injured list.

      Now, how do the San Diego Padres adjust?

      Pivetta, the Padres' Opening Day starter, was placed on the 15-day injured list with right elbow inflammation. He was removed from Sunday's start three pitches into the top of the fourth inning with what the team called stiffness in his right elbow.

      Right-handed reliever Alek Jacob was called up from Triple-A to take Pivetta's place on the roster. Jakob has 7⅓ scoreless innings in five appearances this season, but is strictly a reliever.

      However, that still leaves a gaping hole in the Friars' starting rotation. It is possible that Jakob is just a roster filler until Pivetta's spot in the rotation comes up Saturday vs. the Los Angeles Angels, when someone like right-hander Matt Waldron could be activated from the injured list. Waldron has been really good during his rehab assignment following his hemorrhoid surgery in spring training. In three appearances at Triple-A El Paso, where he has pitched 12 scoreless innings with one walk and 12 strikeouts.

      Waldron's rehab assignment only has less than two weeks remaining, so this would be the perfect opportunity to bring him back.

      The Padres were also connected Tuesday to free-agent right-hander Lucas Giolito, who is surprisingly still on the market. But with Giolito not settling for a cheaper, prove-it contract, his price tag might be a little out of the Friars' price range.

      Another option is left-hander JP Sears, who was optioned to Triple-A after not making the Opening Day roster. Sears has made three starts for El Paso, registering a 4.73 ERA with six walks and 11 strikeouts in 13⅓ innings.

      One more possibility would be left-hander Kyle Hart stretching out to a starter's role. Hart has been the long man in the Padres' bullpen, but with uneven results. In six games, Hart has a 3.73 FIP and 4.91 ERA in 11 innings. He has walked five and struck out six.

       

      Steve Drumwright

       

      The San Diego Padres became the final MLB team to alter their Opening Day roster, activating late-inning bullpen stalwart Jason Adam from the 15-day injured list Friday.

      To make room for Adam, right-hander Jeremiah Estrada went on the 15-day IL with tendinitis in his right elbow.

      Adam, a right-handed setup man, ruptured his left quadriceps tendon in a Sept. 1 game and required surgery. He progressed well during the offseason, with speculation that he could have been on the Opening Day roster. Instead, Adam started the season on the IL and got in a few more outings during a rehab assignment at Triple-A El Paso.

      At El Paso, Adam made four appearances and didn't allow a run, including two perfect innings Wednesday as a final tune-up. He allowed two hits and a walk while striking out one in his five rehab innings. He rejoins a Padres bullpen that has been decent in the first 13 games of the season, albeit with a few blips, ranking 10th in MLB with a 3.05 ERA. Friars relievers have worked the fourth-most innings thus far with 56.

      Last year, Adam had a 3.07 FIP (1.93 ERA) in 65 appearances over 65⅓ innings as a key member of a bullpen that had the best ERA in the majors at 3.06.

      Estrada has battled a loss in velocity in his seven outings this season, allowing four runs in his season debut and two more Thursday. Estrada's four-seam fastball has averaged 95 mph this season after being at 97.9 in 2025. He has a 5.14 ERA in 5⅓ innings, with five walks and eight strikeouts this season.

       

      Steve Drumwright

      As the San Diego Padres try to replenish their farm system, the Friars will have the 21st-most money in their draft bonus pool for 2026.

      MLB informed clubs of the slot values and bonus pools for this year's draft, which is July 11-12. For the Padres, whose prospect list has gone down in overall quality due to a variety of trades in recent years, that means having a bonus pool of $9,479,000. The bonus pool for each team covers the first 10 rounds. In 2025, the Friars' bonus pool was $6,569,100.

      The Padres have the No. 21 pick in the first round after having No. 25 each of the last two years, when they selected left-handed starters Kash Mayfield in 2024 and Kruz Schoolcraft in 2025. The slot value for this year's 21st pick is $4,224,700.

      The Pittsburgh Pirates have the largest bonus pool at $19,130,700, while the Los Angeles Dodgers have the smallest at $3,951,900. The Dodgers were one of four teams that had their top pick moved back 10 spots as a penalty for surpassing the second threshold in the competitive balance tax.

      The Chicago White Sox hold the No. 1 pick, with a slot value of $11,350,600, and the No. 3 bonus pool of $17,592,100. Each slot value went up 2.5% based on increased MLB revenue.

      2026 MLB Draft bonus pools

      • Pittsburgh Pirates: $19,130,700
      • Tampa Bay Rays: $19,009,300
      • Chicago White Sox: $17,592,100
      • Minnesota Twins: $16,929,600
      • St. Louis Cardinals: $16,612,300
      • Kansas City Royals: $15,954,000
      • Atlanta: $15,870,800
      • Colorado Rockies: $15,557,600
      • San Francisco Giants: $14,080,400
      • Athletics: $13,840,300
      • Houston Astros: $13,712,700
      • Arizona Diamondbacks: $13,603,100
      • Baltimore Orioles: $13,114,000
      • Cleveland Guardians: $12,573,900
      • Washington Nationals: $12,278,300
      • Miami Marlins: $11,960,100
      • Los Angeles Angels: $11,755,400
      • Cincinnati Reds: $10,758,500
      • Texas Rangers: $10,219,200
      • Chicago Cubs: $9,644,100
      • San Diego Padres: $9,479,000
      • Detroit Tigers: $9,165,100
      • Boston Red Sox: $8,219,200
      • Seattle Mariners: $8,218,200
      • Milwaukee Brewers: $8,042,900
      • Philadelphia Phillies: $7,773,000
      • New York Yankees: $7,342,800
      • New York Mets: $6,730,900
      • Toronto Blue Jays: $5,543,100
      • Los Angeles Dodgers: $3,951,900
      Steve Drumwright

      As the San Diego Padres played their second game of the season on Friday, two of their players took their first steps in making their way back to the major-league roster.

      Infielder Sung Mun Song and right-handed starter Matt Waldron began rehab assignments with Triple-A El Paso following their spring training injuries. Friday marked the season opener for the Chihuahuas, who played on the road against the Sacramento River Cats. Waldron is recovering from hemorrhoid surgery, and Song from a strained right oblique.

      Waldron started and went three shutout innings, allowing two hits, walking none, and striking out three. Waldron faced 10 batters and threw 37 pitches, 25 for strikes.

      Song, who played second base, had four plate appearances, going 1-for-3 with a walk, a strikeout, and two RBIs. Hitting second in the lineup, Song drew a six-pitch walk in his first plate appearance, lined out to center in the third inning, hit a two-run single in the fifth, and struck out in the sixth before being replaced in the bottom of the eighth by Clay Dungan. In the field, Song handled four grounders, helped turn two double plays, and caught a pop-up.

      The Chihuahuas won 9-3.

      The clock has now started on Waldron and Song. Rehab assignments can last up to 30 days for pitchers and 20 days for position players.

      Steve Drumwright

      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.

      Steve Drumwright

      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.

       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       

      A post shared by San Diego Padres (@padres)

      The 33-year-old Pivetta was a late signing last year, joining the Padres on a four-year, $55 million contract. He went on to have the best season of his nine-year career. In 31 starts, Pivetta went 13-5 with a 3.49 FIP (2.87 ERA), walking 6.9% of hitters and striking out 26.4%. That earned him sixth place in NL Cy Young Award voting.

      Pivetta had a brief bout of arm fatigue following his March 3 start, but only missed one turn in the rotation and started twice more, building up to 71 pitches in his final outing on March 20.

      "We're excited for Nick to get his chance to start Opening Day. He was our best pitcher throughout the whole entire last season. Was our No. 1 starter when we took on the Cubs in the Wild Card Series. He has pitched great in spring training, and he deserves to get the Opening Day nod."

       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       

      A post shared by 97.3 The Fan (@973thefan)

      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.

      Steve Drumwright

      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.

      Steve Drumwright

      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.

      Steve Drumwright

      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.

      Brock Beauchamp

      How To Install On iPhone or iPad
      How To Install On Android Device

      Developing a pure, native app for either Android or iOS is a breathtakingly expensive endeavor, which is why we haven’t done it, despite so many requests over the years. Thankfully, technology has met us halfway, and PWAs (Progressive Web Applications) have reached maturity in the marketplace.

      What is a PWA? It’s effectively a pseudo-app that works much like a native application but doesn’t require tens of thousands of dollars in development to produce. It creates a single browser instance and maintains it as if it were an application. It’s basically a standalone browser tab, dedicated specifically to Padres Mission.

      From this app instance, you can receive notifications; the typical browser interface is removed, and the site is presented clearly, using as much screen real estate as possible, all without sacrificing any functionality. The site is faster, more reliable, and offers more mobile functionality than a standard web browser.

      Additionally, a newer, completely updated Padres Mission is coming later this year, and that will add even more app-like features, making PWA usage even better for all our users.

      With that said, here’s how you turn Padres Mission into an app on your mobile device.

      How To “Install” Padres Mission on iPhone or iPad Using Safari

      First, go to the home page of Padres Mission at https://padresmission.com/.

      1. Tap on the ellipses (…) at bottom right of screen.
      2. Tap “Share” in pop-up menu.

      ios1.jpg

      3. Tap “View More”.
      4. Tap “Add To Home Screen”.
      5. Tap “Add”.

      ios2.jpg

      That takes you to your home screen on iOS, where you can move the Padres Mission app around, just as you would any other app.

      Additionally, you can turn on notifications for them. Just go to the following link while logged into the site: https://padresmission.com/notifications/options/.

      ios3.jpg

      How To “Install” Padres Mission on an Android Device Using Chrome

      First, go to the home page of Padres Mission at https://padresmission.com/.

      1. Tap on the vertical ellipses (…) at top right of screen.
      2. Tap “Share…” in pop-up menu.

      android1.jpg

      3. Tap “Add to Home Screen”.
      4. Tap “Install”.

      android2.jpg

      That takes you to your home screen on Android, where you can move the Padres Mission app around, just as you would any other app.

      Additionally, you can turn on notifications for the site. Just go to the following link while logged into the site: https://padresmission.com/notifications/options/.

      android3.jpg

      Steve Drumwright

      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.

      Steve Drumwright

      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.

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