Emilio Pagan Could Be A Steal For Saves

San Diego Padres reliever Emilio Pagan could be a steal in drafts for managers scrounging for saves. Listed on RotoBaller as the designated closer, Pagan's dirt-cheap 454 ADP makes him a worthwhile gamble. The 29-year-old struggled with injuries and command in 2020, stumbling to a 4.50 ERA in 22 appearances, but has collected 22 saves […]

Mark Melancon A Lottery Ticket For Saves

San Diego Padres reliever Mark Melancon could be tabbed to close games in 2021. Entering spring training, the ninth inning looked to be Drew Pomeranz' job, but subsequent injuries to the bullpen could lead to a hierarchy reshuffling. The 36-year-old Melancon enters his first year in San Diego after posting a 2.78 ERA with 11 […]

Tucupita Marcano Has Fighting Chance To Make Team

San Diego Padres infield prospect Tucupita Marcano has raked this spring and has a chance to make the Opening Day roster. The Friars No. 6 prospect has gone 15-for-36 with six extra-base hits, tallying a 1.167 OPS. A long shot entering March, Marcano's strong performance and injury to starting center fielder Trent Grisham (hamstring) has […]

Blake Snell Will Start Second Game Of Season

San Diego Padres starter Blake Snell will start the second game of the season Friday against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Yielding the Opening Day nod to fellow newcomer Yu Darvish, Snell will debut for the Friars after recording a 3.24 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 28 percent strikeout rate in five seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays. […]

Austin Nola Progressing Quicker Than Expected

The San Diego Padres hope catcher Austin Nola (finger) can take batting practice this weekend. The Friars starting backstop fractured his finger nearly two weeks ago but has progressed quicker than expected. Nola recorded an .825 OPS with seven homers and 52 runs-plus-RBI in 184 plate appearances in 2020 but struggled after joining the Padres […]

Fernando Tatis Jr.'s Shoulder Issue Considered Minor

San Diego Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. (shoulder) is back in the lineup as the designated hitter Thursday against the Texas Rangers. Tatis aggravated a lingering issue to his left shoulder Tuesday after a defensive play and was forced to exit the game. His return to the scorecard is a great sign, but the Friars […]

Fernando Tatis Jr. Exits With Apparent Injury

San Diego Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. (shoulder) exited Tuesday's game with an apparent injury. After a defensive play, Tatis came off the field with the trainer. Subsequent reports indicated the initial concern was his left shoulder. Fantasy managers and baseball fans will certainly hope the move is precautionary, but the focus will be any […]

Drew Pomeranz Scheduled To Pitch Friday

San Diego Padres reliever Drew Pomeranz (forearm) is expected to pitch Friday. The 32-year-old southpaw has been sidelined for two weeks with forearm tightness but tests revealed no structural damage. Pomeranz posted a fantastic 1.45 ERA and 40 percent strikeout rate in 20 appearances in 2020, gathering four saves. He's currently the favorite to close […]

Jacob Nix Undergoes Tommy John Surgery

The San Diego Padres confirmed pitcher Jacob Nix (elbow) underwent Tommy John surgery last week. The former prospect debuted in 2018 to a 7.02 ERA in nine starts but had battled elbow issues over the past two years. The 25-year-old was a long shot to make the squad as bullpen depth but will now rehab […]

Ha-Seong Kim Will Take Outfield Reps

San Diego Padres infielder Ha-Seong Kim will take outfield reps in the closing days of spring training. With starting center fielder Trent Grisham (hamstring) questionable for Opening Day, the Friars are experimenting positions, potentially shifting Tommy Pham or Jurickson Profar to center. Kim played shortstop and third base across seven seasons in the KBO, but […]

Tommy Pham Fine After Colliding With Wall

San Diego Padres outfielder Tommy Pham (hip) should be fine after banging into the left field wall Saturday. After starting spring training ice-cold, Pham has collected nine hits in his last six contests, lifting his average to .265 in 34 at-bats. After posting three consecutive seasons of double-digit homers and steals, Pham suffered an injury-riddled […]

Brian O'Grady Battling For Roster Spot

San Diego Padres outfielder Brian O'Grady continued his push to make the roster Sunday, collecting two knocks, including a triple, against the Los Angeles Angels. Potentially vying for the final bench spot with infielder/outfielder Jorge Mateo, O'Grady's spring resume now boasts a .954 OPS and two homers over 37 plate appearances. The 28-year-old has appeared […]

Dinelson Lamet Debuting On Wednesday

San Diego Padres starter Dinelson Lamet will make his first spring start Wednesday against the San Francisco Giants. The 28-year-old's brilliant campaign was cut short last season with a biceps injury and he's been limited to simulated games throughout camp. Lamet excelled with a 2.09 ERA and 35 percent strikeout rate across 69 innings in […]

Pierce Johnson Exits With Groin Tightness

San Diego Padres reliever Pierce Johnson (groin) exited Tuesday's outing early with groin tightness. Expected to be a key middle reliever for the Friars, Johnson landed awkwardly after a delivery and will be reevaluated Wednesday. After a stint in Japan, the 29-year-old enjoyed a resurgent 2020 campaign, posting a 2.70 ERA and 34 percent strikeout […]

Fernando Tatis Jr. Returns To Lineup With A Bang

San Diego Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. crushed a leadoff home run Friday against the Oakland Athletics. The 22-year-old had been out since March 5 with an illness, but he continued his torrid spring with two knocks in his return. Tatis is now 6-for-12 with two homers as he stakes his claim as one of […]

Joshua Mears Annihilates 117.3 MPH Homer

San Diego Padres outfield prospect Joshua Mears demolished a 117.3 mph home run Wednesday against the Colorado Rockies. The 20-year-old non-roster invitee is just 1-for-7 this spring, but his long ball would've been one of the hardest hit last season in the majors. The Friars 2019 second-round pick and No. 10 prospect (per MLB Pipeline) possesses […]

MacKenzie Gore, Ryan Weathers Have Shot At Opening Day Roster

San Diego Padres pitching prospects MacKenzie Gore and Ryan Weathers both have legitimate shots to crack the Opening Day roster. While both southpaws are viewed long term as starters, both could fill swing roles with reliever Matt Strahm (knee) out and the Friars down to one left-hander in the bullpen. Furthermore, starter Dinelson Lamet (elbow) is […]

Fernando Tatis Jr.'s Return To Lineup Is Imminent

San Diego Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. (illness) completed a full workout Wednesday and should return to game action Thursday or Friday. The 22-year-old star had battled a non-COVID bug earlier this week but appears close to full strength. After posting a 150 wRC+ across his first 629 big league plate appearances with 39 homers […]

Jurickson Profar Dealing With Groin Tightness

San Diego Padres infielder/outfielder Jurickson Profar (groin) is dealing with groin tightness but should return Thursday. The utilityman has missed three games but had amassed a hit and three walks in 10 spring plate appearances. The 28-year-old flourished in his first season in San Diego, posting a .278/.343/.428 slash with seven homers and steals apiece […]

Drew Pomeranz Flexible On Bullpen Role

San Diego Padres reliever Drew Pomeranz doesn't care whether he is the team's designated closer. Since converting to a full-time reliever, the 32-year-old southpaw has been fantastic, including a 1.45 ERA and 40 percent strikeout rate last year. He also recorded four saves in 20 appearances. Padres manager Jayce Tingler indicates he'd prefer a "set […]

Ha-seong Kim Struggling With Contact

San Diego Padres infielder Ha-Seong Kim has struggled to start spring training, recording just two hits with four strikeouts in 14 plate appearances. The 25-year-old joined the majors this offseason after seven excellent years in the KBO, culminating with a .306/.397/.523 line last season with 30 homers, 23 steals and 220 runs-plus-RBI in 138 contests. […]

Jake Cronenworth Starting Hot In Spring

San Diego Padres second baseman Jake Cronenworth is off to a .364/.417/.455 this spring across 12 plate appearances. The 27-year-old enjoyed a sensational rookie campaign, posting a .831 OPS while popping four homers, swiping three bags and tallying 46 runs-plus-RBI in 192 plate appearances. With the offseason addition of Korean infielder Ha-Seong Kim, Cronenworth's playing […]

Manny Machado Collects Two Knocks Tuesday

San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado collected two knocks and a walk Tuesday against the Chicago White Sox, lifting his spring slash to .400/.538/.600 in 13 plate appearances. With substantial buzz around teammate Fernando Tatis Jr., Machado quietly enjoyed a monster 2020 campaign, registering a .950 OPS with 16 homers, 91 runs-plus-RBI and six […]

Blake Snell Blanks White Sox Across Two Innings

San Diego Padres starter Blake Snell tossed two shutout frames in Tuesday's spring training contest against the Chicago White Sox. Snell required 22 pitches to record one strikeout and permit one knock, extending his spring ledger to three scoreless innings. The 28-year-old is locked in as the Friars No. 2 starter. In five big league […]

Jose Castillo Undergoing Tommy John Surgery

The San Diego Padres announced reliever Jose Castillo (elbow) will undergo Tommy John surgery. The development is another terrible turn for the 25-year-old, who has pitched just 2/3 innings since 2018. Castillo was poised to compete for a middle relief role with the Friars but will instead start the long road to recovery. After bursting […]

Joe Musgrove Debuting For Friars Friday

San Diego Padres starter Joe Musgrove is staged to start Friday against the San Francisco Giants in his spring debut. Acquired in the offseason from the Pittsburgh Pirates, the 28-year-old posted a career best campaign in a shortened 2020 season. Across eight starts, Musgrove registered a 3.86 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and fantastic 33 percent strikeout […]

Austin Nola Played Through Fractured Foot In 2020

San Diego Padres catcher Austin Nola quietly played through a fractured foot after he was acquired via trade last season. Brought in midseason to bolster the lineup, Nola immediately fouled a ball off his foot, which possibly explains the modest .705 OPS he registered with the Friars. He had posted a .903 OPS with the […]

Anderson Espinoza Progressing After Elbow Surgeries

San Diego Padres pitcher Anderson Espinoza (elbow) threw a simulated game last week, continuing his road to recovery. The 22-year-old former top prospect hasn't pitched since 2016 after he needed two Tommy John surgeries. Espinoza should be healthy following his 2019 procedure and forecasts as a bullpen weapon for the Friars if he shines in the […]

Tucupita Marcano Showing Knack At The Plate

San Diego Padres infield prospect Tucupita Marcano has turned heads in spring training, demonstrating impressive plate awareness. Off to an early 3-for-4 start, Marcano has built off his strong 2020 summer camp and is included with regarded outfield prospects CJ Abrams and Robert Hassell III as youngsters with high offensive potential. Marcano, the team's No. 6 prospect, […]

Trent Grisham Still Focused On Defense After Gold Glove

After winning a Gold Glove in 2020, San Diego Padres outfielder Trent Grisham remains motivated to improve defensively. After tying for the lead with six outs above average among outfielders, Grisham continues to nitpick his deficiencies. Offensively, the 24-year-old was a revelation last season, slashing .251/.352/.456 in 252 plate appearances, swiping 10 bases and popping […]