More power? Speed? How will the Padres utilize their bench spots?
Credit: Forbes
The San Diego Padres have a plethora of options to round out the roster, but what tools should they value in the decision-making process?
At the end of every Spring camp, roster cuts aren’t easy decisions for any general manager.
But when seemingly everyone in contention is swinging the bat well, it makes the process that much tougher. As the Padres have merely a week of Spring Training left to go, A.J. Preller, Mike Shildt, and Co. will likely find themselves in this dilemma.
The decisions of who to start in left field, at catcher, and at designated hitter are questions to come as the roster is shaped out. As of now, the Padres will most likely stick with the plan to platoon Connor Joe and Jason Heyward. They will also start Elias Diaz behind the plate, with either Martin Maldonado or Luis Campusano backing him up.
With a platoon and two catchers, that leaves the DH role and two bench spots up for grabs. As of now, the Padres have eight realistic options to fill the three spots. Five of these players are posting an OPS over .800 this Spring.
With the abundance of success between these players, it’s important to remember that all rosters have a design. A.J. Preller can’t just choose the three hottest hitters; instead, there needs to be a balance of different skillsets.
So who are the options, and what do they bring to the table?
Iglesias is the most recent acquisition of the group. He offers reliable above-average defense in the middle infield, as he’s posted a total of 34 OAA since 2017, per Statcast. Offensively, he utilizes a short and slow swing that allows him great bat to ball skills. His downside is the lack of pop in his bat, as he produced a mere 85.8 MPH average exit velocity in 2024. He presents a stable defensive option and could serve as an everyday player if he is able to replicate his 2024 success.
Rosario has floated around the radar for some time now, and has made MLB appearances in three straight years. Rosario’s obvious strength is that crushes left-handers, posting a 1.018 OPS split against LHP in Triple-A last season. However his challenges with righties limit his value to spot-starts and pinch hit appearances late in games. If on the MLB roster, he would primarily be pinch-hitting against lefties late in games.
Ornelas is probably the most intriguing of the group. He’s 25, hit 23 homers in El Paso last year, while striking out just 16.1% of the time. He’s arguably the most complete hitter out of all the options Preller has to choose from. However, his power capabilities are diminished by a tendency of hitting too many ground balls (6.8° Avg. LA in 2024). While he’s a well-rounded hitter, he may be overshadowed by more eye-popping tools.
Sheets has been the talk of the town this Spring. He’s launched six homers, hit .311, and attributed aspects of his success to his new hitting coach, Victor Rodriguez. The former White Sox prospect has found the ability to utilize his 235-pound frame to translate his raw power to in-game power. He’s likely the best power bat in the race. Sheets is making a strong case to slot into the DH role against right-handers, to say the least.
Lockridge has the advantage of spending time in a bench role last season, and has competed fiercely in this year’s camp. While he doesn’t boast elite power, he’s a threat on the basepaths, as well being an above average defensive outfielder. He’s held his own at the plate this Spring, posting a .333 AVG with three extra-base hits. While he’s probably the most slept on of the bunch, he quietly could serve as both a defensive replacement in the outfield and a dangerous pinch runner.
Probably known best for his AL Wild Card walk off home run in 2022, Gonzalez has had himself a Spring as well. In 18 Cactus League games, Gonzales is posting a .370/.408/.522 slash line for the Padres. Similar to Sheets, Gonzalez is another unanticipated minor league signing that has shot through expectations early on. He hits both righties and lefties well, and is a strong candidate to fill a long-term if any DH/OF spot is left vacated
Wade appeared in 90 games for San Diego last season, making his longest stint during Manny Machado’s defensive absence to begin the year. While he lacked statistical value, he was valuable as a pinch runner, and played innings at every position except 1B and C. He was an important clubhouse guy, and as a result, spent all of 2024 at the MLB level. Wade would figure to serve the same role in 2025, as has a leg-up on the competition despite a sluggish Spring camp so far.
An unexpected signing, the 40-year-old Gurriel brings championship experience to the Friars’ roster. He’s shown he can still handle MLB pitching and then some, posting an .840 OPS with a homer this Spring. Despite the controversy upon his arrival, Gurriel serves as a moderately reliable veteran bat who could play the 2024 Donovan Solano role, or the 2023 Gary Sanchez role. Gurriel is good bet to be the Opening Day DH against Chris Sale and the Braves.
Summary
The Padres have some tough decisions to make across this upcoming week. The most likely construction is likely a power/speed/defense combination that would maximize the value of the group. However, there could be surprises ahead, as some players may be able to alter that roster outline with their extensive skillsets.
Either way, it shouldn’t be hard to feel optimistic about whoever comes out of the roster competition, as they all boast deserving resumes.
A 17-year-old San Diego native, Willy Warren is a baseball fan at heart who created High Leverage Baseball, a combination of around-the-league statistical analysis and breakdowns on X, and daily newsletters on the TikTok platform. Willy passionately studies Journalism at San Dieguito Academy, and is working to become billingual in Spanish to assist in communicating with Latin-born players and coaches.