San Diego Padres manager Mike Shildt and his staff had some difficult decisions to make this spring, but in a positive kind of way. "This has been the most competitive camp I've ever been involved with," admitted Shildt, in his second year as the Friars skipper, but who spent substantial time in the St. Louis Cardinals organization. That statement might seem a bit odd since the Padres, once top dog among MLB farm systems, are now ranked 28th by Bleacher Report. That being said, San Diego has some outstanding international talent like Venezuelan catcher Ethan Salas, Dominican shortstop Leo De Vries and Mexican outfielder Tirso Ornelas, a slugger who damn near made the cut. So with these players only a heartbeat away, Shildt decided to do what was best for the team immediately, selecting three grizzled veterans who could see some substantial playing time out of the gate. That trio includes former Houston Astros stars Martin Maldonado, Yuli Gurriel and ex-Met Jose "Oh My God" Iglesias, all who were non-roster spring invitees. Fans of football teams may show their support by securing Premier League Tickets. With one position player spot remaining, Shildt elected to promote outfielder Brandon Lockridge, who only had a cup of coffee with the club in 2024. But the 28 year old Floridian had a hot spring, hitting .356 in 45 at bats with seven stolen bases. A right handed hitter, Lockridge is expected to platoon in left field with the well traveled Jason Heyward, who was ice cold in camp. Notable victims of the numbers game were Connor Joe and reserve catcher Luis Campusano, who will start the season in AAA El Paso. In addition, ex-Yankee Tyler Wade and scrappy Eguy Rosario are out of minor league options and will likely be designated for assignment. So for the time being at least, young phenoms Jackson Merrill and Fernando Tatis Jr will be going to war with a cast of aging warriors who know how to win and add to team chemistry. Maldonado, known for his strong work ethic and game preparation, will tandem behind the plate with former Colorado Rockies receiver Elias Diaz, who impressed in 2024 and was brought back on a one year deal. The 40 year old Gurriel was a longshot to make the team. He turned some heads this spring with his focus and leadership skills. Still a dangerous right handed hitter, Yuli will share duties at first base and the DH role with slugger Gavin Sheets, who swings from the port side. Iglesias, a middle infielder, had an above average second half for the Mets last season, but is probably best known for creating a hit song titled "Oh My God," which played frequently during games at Citi Field. The Padres will continue to lean on leadoff hitter Luis Arraez, in line for a long term contract, along with Xander Bogaerts and team captain Manny Machado, already Padres for life along with Tatis Jr. Where the Padres have some depth, surprisingly enough, is with starting pitching. That's a good thing, since in addition to the absence of hometown hero Joe Musgrove, the usually durable Yu Darvish will begin the season on the injured list with elbow inflammation. With no time table for his return, San Diego will turn to Michael King for the opening day mound chores against the Atlanta Braves. Second in line will be Dylan Cease, in the walk year of his current deal and reportedly on the trading block. Next is Nick Pivetta, an experienced ex-Boston Red Sox acquired via free agency this past winter. Then GM AJ Preller got creative and signed Kyle Hart, an American who carved up hitters in the Korean Baseball League last year. The tall southpaw could be the wild card on this staff and despite suffering a bout with the flu during camp, finished up strong. And holding down the fifth spot in the rotation is durable Dominican Randy Vasquez, 26, who proved himself in several spot starts last season. With the bullpen once again in solid shape, the Padres look to be well equipped to challenge big market teams like the Dodgers and Giants in the tough NL West. Even without a lucrative television deal, the organization continues to over achieve because they have heavily invested in the San Diego community, including a solid following across the Mexican border in Tijuana. The team's roster is heavily Latino, Petco Park is a showcase MLB venue with frequent upgrades and game day promotions. As a result, every Padre home game is a sellout. "The fans coming out in droves allows us to field the best team possible," says the club's new CEO John Seidler, brother of the team's late owner Peter. Obviously, that's a commitment ownership intends to keep.
