Accidents have compelled the San Diego Padres to shuffle their roster. The minor league call-ups have accomplished a terrific job of contributing and preserving the staff atop the Nationwide League West division chase.
The Padres are coping with a number of accidents to the lineup. Jackson Merrill, Brandon Lockridge, Luis Arraez, and Jason Heyward are all on the harm checklist. The result’s the Friars digging deep on the 40-man roster for replacements.
Heading into spring coaching, the Padres roster depth was a problem. Staff president of baseball operations and basic supervisor A.J. Preller signed a number of gamers to minor league contracts in preparation for each doable state of affairs. Sadly, nothing can put together a staff for the variety of accidents the Friars have sustained within the first month of the season.
Now, Gavin Sheets is the common first baseman. Tyler Wade, Oscar Gonzalez, and Tirso Ornelas will deal with the middle and left discipline positions. Mason McCoy is taking on the utility infielder bench position.
The outfielder roles are well-defined
Wade is healthier suited to play heart discipline than Gonzalez or Ornelas. Each gamers lack the athleticism wanted to cowl the bottom in heart. It value them a chance to make the Opening Day roster.
Gonzalez provides one other main league bat to the lineup. He should proceed to work on his protection, however has performed higher of late within the discipline. Gonzalez batted .290 in seven video games at El Paso. Since his call-up, he’s hitting .302 with 4 RBIs in 4 main league video games. If Gonzalez produces, he can be a welcome addition to the bench.
Ornelas appears to be urgent in his three appearances with the Padres. His manufacturing in spring coaching gave everybody hope that he might supply some energy off the bench late in one-run video games. This difficult-hit ball the opposite day contributes to that hope too.
McCoy is the basic utility participant
The Padres accomplished their roster strikes with the call-up of Mason McCoy, who can play all 4 infield positions. He can proceed giving the regulars their regular off days within the discipline.
Let’s not overlook that McCoy made his main league debut with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2023, and he performed 19 video games with the Padres final season. Earlier than his name up. McCoy was batting .328 with a HR and 16 RBIs in 20 video games at El Paso. At present, he’s 0-for-4 in restricted at-bats with the Friars.
Accidents to star gamers are by no means excellent news for a staff. The Padres entrance workplace has been fairly guarded with offering rehab development updates for the gamers on IL. Their return is unknown at the moment (however listed here are a while estimates). Having good roster depth is a welcome treatment.
Nothing is about in stone, however the call-ups have offered lineup choices for Padres supervisor Mike Shildt till the starters are wholesome. You by no means understand how the lineup will react to lacking items within the batting order. The manufacturing of the call-ups has exceeded expectations.
Shildt will consider the totally different lineup combos accessible on a game-to-game and series-to-series foundation to find out which batting order provides the Padres the perfect likelihood to win. Hopefully, the recent play from the minor league call-ups will complicate figuring out the bench’s look.
