The San Diego Padres made their first spring training roster cuts last Thursday, sending prospects Leo DeVries and Ethan Salas to the just opened minor league camp.
The two top prospects made the headlines but were also joined by other prospects and minor league invitees. Pitchers Austin Krob, Ryan Och, JB Wendelken, Jose Espada, Braeden Nett and Francis Pena as well as catchers Brandon Valenzuela and Anthony Vilar and 1B Romeo Sanabria all joined them.
On Friday, pitchers Austin Davis, Jake Higginbotham and Henry Baez were sent to minor league camp with another group following on Sunday. Starter Ryan Bergert and relievers Eduarniel Nunez and Harold Chirino were joined by Luis Patiño, who will continue his post Tommy John throwing program with the minor league teams. Catcher Rudolfo Duran and OF Yonathon Perlaza were also sent down on Sunday.
Then earlier today, the Padres announced they have reassigned INF/OF Trenton Brooks, INF Mike Brosseau, and INF/OF Clay Dungan to minor league camp today. There are now 49 players remaining in Major League camp.
Both Logan Gillaspie and Bradley Rodriquez remain in major league camp. Rodriquez hasn’t pitched in a week and a half, fighting an illness that has kept him out of games. Gillaspie seems to intrigue the Padres, they claimed him off waivers in November of 2023, calling him up last season where he allowed a 7.15 ERA in nine games. He was released at the end of the season and then re-signed to a minor league contract in December. He has a four pitch mix with a mid-90’s fastball and shows flashes of dominance but has not been able to sustain it.
Most of the non-roster infielders remain in camp with the front line starters slowly working their way to more playing time. With the exception of Jose Iglesias, none of them would be expected to make the final roster.
Outfielders Oscar Gonzalez and Forrest Wall remain in camp and are hitting well. With Gavin Sheets, Connor Joe and Tirso Ornelas all able to play the outfield, it seems likely both of them will be late cuts for the roster.
Catcher Martin Maldonado is a defensive specialist that has never hit for average but fell below .200 in 2021 and has stayed there. He has produced double-digit homers in three of the last four years but played in less than 50 games last season for the Chicago White Sox. Most major league managers value defensive skill over offense from the catching position so it is conceivable that Maldonado can make this team if Luis Campusano continues to struggle.
The DH position remains a puzzle with Yuli Gurriel and Gavin Sheets getting the most looks in that role. Sheets has hit two homers over the last couple of opportunities but has a sub .200 average in 28 at-bats and Gurriel has hit .250/.294/.375 with no homers over 16 at bats.
The utility jobs have tremendous competition and it seems likely to be a late decision in camp. Tyler Wade, Eguy Rosario, Jose Iglesias and Connor Joe all have versatility with Iglesias being the only one limited to the infield. Joe still has minor league options left and might not be a lock for the final roster. Rosario must make the roster or be traded/let go as he is out of options.
The fourth outfielder position looks to include Joe, Ornelas, Wall and Gonzalez but most likely will be someone currently on the major league roster. The versatility of the players competing for utility jobs also gives the outfield position more flexibility.
With the injuries to Bryan Hoeing (shoulder) and Sean Reynolds (foot), the bullpen competition will probably go down to the wire. The trickle down effect from the fifth starter competition has a good chance of impacting these decisions.
Both Kyle Hart and Stephen Kolek have shown upside, both in their game appearances and on the back field sim games. Matt Waldron has been inconsistent with his knuckleball so far this spring but that is not surprising. Managing a knuckler takes feel and can be difficult to master. Randy Vasquez has struggled in his appearances and seems to be losing ground as we get closer to the season. If you assume the fifth spot will go to one of Waldron, Kolek or Hart then the long relief role could go to one of the remaining pitchers until Hoeing recovers.
I’m assuming Jason Adam, Jeremiah Estrada, Yuki Matsui, Adrian Morejon, Wandy Peralta and Robert Suarez are locks. That leaves two spots remaining for a long reliever and one middle reliever. Currently, Tom Cosgrove, Alek Jacob and Ron Marinaccio are competing for the middle reliever position. Jhony Brito could fill either role if he steps up.
Rule 5 claim RHP Juan Nunez has made one Cactus League appearance but remains on the injury list while recovering from a right shoulder issue. He is working through a slow build up to the season and could be an IL candidate.
As we are now in the last two weeks of spring training the decisions will get more serious with the catching situation looking to be the most troublesome. Campusano has not been impressive so far and acquiring another catcher could be a priority with Brett Sullivan also out of options and either will leave the organization at the end of spring or could re-sign if he wishes to stay.
