It’s hard to gain a ton of hard-and-fast data from Spring Training. However, the Padres may be tipping their hand with how they have used Eguy Rosario.

San Diego enters the 2025 Spring Training slate with several question marks. One big one hovers over the Padres’ bench. Last year, the Friars enjoyed key contributions from bats like Donovan Solano, David Peralta, and Kyle Higashioka. Frequently, those came from off the bench.

All three of those veteran bats are off the team this year. The Padres are forced to find new faces to be key contributors in a role off the bench and as a utility player.

If how they have deployed Eguy Rosario so far this spring is any indication, the Padres think the stocky Dominican could have an important role in 2025.

The righty played well in a brief reserve role in 2024. In 30 games, he batted .245 and showed some pop. He slugged .528 with three homers and six doubles in 57 plate appearances. That resulted in a solid .814 OPS and 121 OPS+ in a small sample size.

The Padres apparently feel good in giving him an increased role in reserve in 2025. Rosario has experience in the minor leagues, playing all four infield positions and right field. In the big leagues, he has logged innings at second, short, and third. Clearly, he can provide some positional versatility, which is valuable on any MLB roster.

Based on his usage during the first four games of Spring Training, the Padres want to see what Rosario can do in a multitude of situations. He has appeared in three of the four games so far, at three different positions. He opened spring at second base, then played third base against the A’s. Against the Cubs on Monday, he started the game in left. Clearly, the Padres think he can be a big part of the all-important bench that makes up any solid MLB team.

Eguy Rosario with a nice play.

1-2 with 105 MPH double of a RHP. Could gain eligibility at 3B, 2B & LF, and play a lot more than initially expected if he does well in Spring.

Career .348/.348/.870 v LHP at MLB level. Could platoon with Cronenworth at 2B/Ornelas at LF pic.twitter.com/jyPabaVZsz

— LouisAnalysis (@LouisAnalysis) February 21, 2025

Another telling sign is that on Sunday, when the Padres virtually brought zero starters to Camelback Ranch to face the Dodgers, Rosario was also absent. That could be another sign as to where the Padres view Rosario.

Rosario is showing well so far with the bat, going 3-for-7 with a home run, double, and four RBI in his first three games.

He's a good Eguy! pic.twitter.com/WUUtOsDspr

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) February 24, 2025

The five-foot-seven 25-year-old appears built out of granite. He has the athleticism to play virtually anywhere on the diamond. He will certainly come in handy when corner infielders like Manny Machado or Luis Arraez inevitably need a day off or if the team wants them to slide to DH for a half-day off.

If the Padres experience an injury to an infielder, it appears Rosario might be first man up to take those starting reps in the interim.

Nick Lee

Native of Escondido, CA. Lived in San Diego area for 20 years. Padres fan since childhood (mid-90s). I have been writing since 2014. I currently live near Seattle, WA and am married to a Seattle sports girl. I wore #19 on my high school baseball team for Tony Gwynn. I am a stats and sports history nerd. I attended BYU on the Idaho campus. I also love Star Wars.