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Griffin Canning Griffin Canning Could face hitters soon
Tue, Mar 3, 2026, 7:56 PM
Canning (Achilles) tossed a "high-intensity" bullpen session Tuesday, and his next step could be facing hitters, per MLB.com.
Analysis: Canning continues to progress in his recovery from a torn left Achilles, though he's yet to be cleared for fielding drills. The veteran hurler is going to begin the regular-season on the injured list, with late April likely the earliest feasible date for his Padres debut. San Diego's rotation is unsettled beyond the top three slots, so Canning has a good chance of getting a chance to stake his claim to a starting role once he's healthy. |
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Jake Cronenworth Jake Cronenworth Batting leadoff Monday
Mon, Mar 2, 2026, 1:22 PM
Cronenworth will start at shortstop and bat leadoff in Monday's Cactus League game against the Athletics.
Analysis: With the Padres set to move their primary leadoff hitter from 2025, Fernando Tatis, into the middle of the order during the upcoming season, first-year manager Craig Stammen is looking to settle on a new table setter before Opening Day. Xander Bogaerts has thus far been the Padres' most frequent leadoff man through the first 10 Cactus League games, but with Bogaerts away until at least March 12 while he plays in the World Baseball Classic, other players will get looks atop the San Diego lineup. Cronenworth will get his first look in the leadoff role Monday, though he's still expected to represent more of a fallback option to Bogaerts at that spot once the season gets underway. When the Padres have all their key position players available, Cronenworth is likely to slot somewhere in the bottom half of the lineup. |
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Matt Waldron Matt Waldron Throwing off mound this week
Mon, Mar 2, 2026, 1:16 PM
Waldron (lower body) is slated to throw off the mound this week, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Analysis: Waldron underwent hemorrhoid surgery last week and is expected to begin the season on the injured list. The knuckleballer hopes to make at least one Cactus League appearance before camp breaks. Waldron is out of minor-league options, so once he's healthy he'll need to either go on the active roster or be exposed to waivers. |
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Xander Bogaerts Xander Bogaerts Favorite for leadoff gig
Mon, Mar 2, 2026, 1:14 PM
Bogaerts has made the most starts out of the leadoff spot through the Padres' first 10 Cactus League games and would appear to be the leading candidate to open the season atop the batting order, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Analysis: Fernando Tatis (150) and Luis Arraez (11) made all but one start out of the leadoff spot for the Padres during the 2025 regular season, but San Diego will be breaking in a new table setter in 2026 with Arraez now in San Francisco and with first-year manager Craig Stammen planning to move Tatis down to the third or fourth spot. Bogaerts primarily slotted somewhere between fourth and sixth in the lineup last season, but as a high-contact hitter with good speed on the bases, he should make for a logical choice to lead off. However, with Bogaerts away from the team until at least March 12 while he participates in the World Baseball Classic, Stammen will experiment with other options atop the order during Cactus League play. Jake Cronenworth will bat leadoff in Monday's game against the Athletics and could represent the top fallback option to Bogaerts once the season gets underway. |
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Fernando Tatis Jr. Fernando Tatis Jr. Moving to middle of batting order
Mon, Mar 2, 2026, 1:12 PM
Tatis is expected to bat either third or fourth for the Padres this season, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Analysis: Tatis spent the overwhelming majority of his time last year batting leadoff, but new manager Craig Stammen prefers to have the 27-year-old in the middle of the batting order. It will result in fewer plate appearances for Tatis but will boost his RBI opportunities. Xander Bogaerts is the favorite to move up to the leadoff spot for San Diego. |
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Joe Musgrove Joe Musgrove Starting exhibition game Wednesday
Mon, Mar 2, 2026, 10:59 AM
Musgrove (elbow) will start Wednesday's exhibition game against Team Great Britain, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Musgrove will be making his first appearance in a game setting since his October 2024 Tommy John surgery. The veteran right-hander has been throwing off the mound throughout Padres camp, most recently tossing three innings in a simulated game last week. Musgrove was sidelined for the entirety of the 2025 campaign, but he will not have strict workload limitations in 2026. |
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Alex Verdugo Alex Verdugo Links up with San Diego
Sun, Mar 1, 2026, 3:18 PM
Verdugo agreed to a minor-league contract with the Padres on Sunday, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Analysis: The veteran outfielder signed with Atlanta for the 2025 campaign and had a .585 OPS in 56 games before being designated for assignment in early July. Verdugo will report to minor-league camp for the Padres, and it's difficult to envision a realistic path to him making the Opening Day roster. |
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Bryan Hoeing Bryan Hoeing Dealing with elbow discomfort
Sun, Mar 1, 2026, 12:34 PM
Hoeing has been shut down after feeling discomfort in his elbow during a recent live bullpen session, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Analysis: Padres pitching coach Ruben Niebla didn't give a timeline for how long Hoeing will remain shut down, but he said Sunday, "We don't think it's as serious (as it could be), but we have to be conscious and take a look at it and be able to make the right assessments." With Opening Day less than four weeks away, Hoeing's availability for the start of the season is in question, as is that of Yuki Matsui's (groin), which could test San Diego's bullpen depth early. Hoeing hadn't yet appeared in a spring game prior to getting hurt. |
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Joe Musgrove Joe Musgrove Sharp in simulated game
Thu, Feb 26, 2026, 2:38 PM
Musgrove (elbow) touched 95 mph with his fastball in a three-inning simulated game Thursday, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Analysis: Working his way back from Tommy John surgery, Musgrove threw 36 pitches in the outing and was pleased with how things went, saying afterward that, "I'm coming out of this feeling the best I have felt." The veteran righty said that things are "kind of all day-to-day" with his rehab based on how he feels, but he expects to make his first Cactus League start next week. Musgrove missed all of the 2025 season but will not have a strict workload limit in 2026, with Padres pitching coach Ruben Niebla saying their approach with the 33-year-old is, "full-go but watch him." |
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Michael King Michael King Impressive in first spring outing
Thu, Feb 26, 2026, 11:55 AM
King allowed one run on two hits and no walks while striking out four batters over 2.2 innings in a Cactus League start versus the Angels on Wednesday.
Analysis: King dealt with multiple injuries last year and made only 15 regular-season starts, but he appears healthy this spring. The right-hander breezed through the first two innings of his Cactus League debut Wednesday, retiring the first six batters he faced before serving up a Christian Moore solo homer in the third. Overall, King was sharp, throwing 26 of his 37 pitches for strikes and inducing seven whiffs. If King can stay healthy, he'll slot in near the top of San Diego's rotation in 2026. |
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Yuki Matsui Yuki Matsui Uncertain for Opening Day
Thu, Feb 26, 2026, 10:40 AM
Matsui (groin) is limited to flat-ground throwing and is questionable for Opening Day, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Analysis: Matsui has been limited after tweaking his left groin last week. The reliever has already had to pull out of pitching for Team Japan in the World Baseball Classic and might not be ready for Opening Day, either. Matsui holds a 3.86 ERA and 130:60 K:BB over 126 regular-season innings in his two years with the Padres. |
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Matt Waldron Matt Waldron Week-to-week after procedure
Tue, Feb 24, 2026, 12:52 PM
Padres manager Craig Stammen said Tuesday that Waldron is "week-to-week" after undergoing hemorrhoid surgery, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Analysis: Waldron is in competition for a spot in the Padres' rotation and threw two scoreless innings in his first Cactus League appearance. However, it's going to be difficult for the knuckleballer to earn one of those spots now. Waldron is coming off a rough 2025 season, as he was knocked around in his lone start for the Padres and posted a 6.67 ERA in 18 starts with Triple-A El Paso. |
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Randy Vasquez Randy Vasquez Solid in first start this spring
Mon, Feb 23, 2026, 12:46 PM
Vasquez tossed two scoreless innings in a Cactus League start against the Dodgers on Sunday, allowing one hit and issuing one walk while striking out one batter.
Analysis: Vasquez held the Dodgers' lineup in check, though Los Angeles didn't play most of its regular starters. The right-hander threw 31 total pitches as he begins to build up toward the regular season. Padres manager Craig Stammen said last week that Vasquez has an "inside track" to beginning the regular season in San Diego's rotation, per AJ Cassavell of MLB.com. |
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Tirso Ornelas Tirso Ornelas Clears waivers
Mon, Feb 23, 2026, 9:57 AM
The Padres outrighted Ornelas to Triple-A El Paso on Monday.
Analysis: Though he's no longer a member of the 40-man roster, Ornelas will stick around in the Padres organization after clearing waivers and will continue to participate in major-league camp. The 25-year-old outfielder is expected to begin the season as an everyday outfielder at El Paso. |
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Jose Miranda Jose Miranda Making strong first impression
Sat, Feb 21, 2026, 10:33 PM
Through two spring games, Miranda has gone 5-for-6 with a home run, two doubles, a walk, two runs and six RBI.
Analysis: Miranda joined San Diego on a minor-league deal in December. While he's still probably a long shot to break camp on the big-league roster, the former Minnesota Twin has likely helped his chances with his torrid hitting to begin the spring slate. In Miranda's favor in his bid to make the roster is the fact that he can play first base, which is the most unsettled position for the Padres at the moment. Miranda has also shown flashes of strong hitting in previous major-league stints, including as recently as 2024, when he slashed .284/.322/.441 with nine homers, 49 RBI, 44 runs and two stolen bases across 121 games while with Minnesota. |
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Jason Adam Jason Adam Could avoid IL stint
Fri, Feb 20, 2026, 11:41 AM
Adam (quadriceps) remains on track for Opening Day, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Analysis: Adam's declaration last week on 97.3 The Fan that he thought he could be ready for the opener seemed like mere optimism. However, it appears he does indeed have a chance to avoid a stint on the injured list, with the reliever noting Friday that the Padres' medical staff was "on board." Recovering from left quadriceps tendon repair surgery, Adam has been throwing bullpens since early December and recently began change-of-direction drills, as well as fielding drills while remaining stationary. He's slated to work as one of closer Mason Miller's main setup men. |
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Yuki Matsui Yuki Matsui Suffers groin injury
Fri, Feb 20, 2026, 11:25 AM
Matsui cut a live batting practice session short Thursday due to left groin tightness, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Analysis: Matsui is now questionable to participate in the World Baseball Classic for Team Japan, though he could resume playing catch as soon as Saturday. The left-hander has been a solid contributor in his first two regular seasons with the Padres, posting a 3.86 ERA and 130:60 K:BB over 126 innings. |
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Randy Vasquez Randy Vasquez Has 'inside track' for rotation
Thu, Feb 19, 2026, 10:19 AM
Padres manager Craig Stammen said recently that Vasquez has an "inside track" to one of the spots in the rotation, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Nick Pivetta, Michael King and Joe Musgrove are locked into the rotation, and Vasquez is likely to join them after making 28 appearances (26 starts) in 2025. While Vasquez finished with a 3.84 ERA over 133.2 regular-season innings, his 78:52 K:BB wasn't pretty. Some ERA regression is likely coming, but he did enough last season that he's expected to open in San Diego's rotation. |
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Griffin Canning Griffin Canning Will begin season on injured list
Wed, Feb 18, 2026, 2:55 PM
Canning (Achilles) will begin the season on the injured list but "might not be there for very long," AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Recovering from a torn left Achilles, Canning said Tuesday that he feels 100 percent when throwing off the mound, but he still has some work to do in regard to the running and agility portion of his rehab. Cassavell suggests that Canning could be ready for his season debut around late April or early May, though a there's no clear timetable just yet. The right-hander held a 3.77 ERA and 70:35 K:BB across 76.1 innings for the Mets in 2025 before getting hurt. Once healthy, Canning should slot into the Padres' rotation. |
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Joe Musgrove Joe Musgrove Full go in Padres camp
Wed, Feb 18, 2026, 1:25 PM
Musgrove (elbow) is considered a full participant in Padres camp but will have his workload watched early in the season after missing the entirety of the 2025 campaign, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Analysis: Musgrove is coming back from Tommy John surgery but will not have a strict innings limit in 2026 in his age-33 season. The Padres will be sensible about how hard they push him early on, however, and an initial six-man rotation is one avenue they're considering. Musgrove boasts a 3.20 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 25.5 percent strikeout rate and 6.1 percent walk rate in his four seasons with the Padres. |
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