As MLB Spring Training winds down, we are getting a better picture of who will break camp in the major leagues with the San Diego Padres.

If the roster follows the usual structure, then the Padres will keep 13 pitchers and 13 hitters. 

Here is a look at my prediction for the 26-man roster.

Starting rotation

The projected pitching staff. 

Opening Day starter- Yu Darvish.

If Darvish gets the nod, he will be the fourth Padre pitcher in the team’s history to start four opening days, joining Jake Peavy, Randy Jones, and Eric Show.

Starting pitcher No. 2- Dylan Cease.

As of now, Cease is still a Padre. Whether that remains the case throughout the spring remains to be seen. People argue that he should be the Opening Day man, but for now, I’ll give the nod to Darvish.

Starting pitcher No. 3- Michael King.

Michael King will hope to maintain his form this season as he enters year two with the organization. 

Starting pitcher No. 4- Nick Pivetta.

Pivetta inked a four-year deal with the Padres early this spring and projects to slot into the back half of the strong rotation.

Starting pitcher No. 5- Kyle Hart.

We’re going to go with Hart here. Hart signed with the Padres this past offseason on a one-year, $1-million offer. He projects to be the only lefty in the rotation, which could give him the edge over guys like Stephen Kolek, Randy Vazquez, or Matt Waldron. Hart is also coming off winning the Choi Dong-Won Award, which is the Korean equivalent of the Cy Young award for the NC Dinos last year. 

Bullpen

Robert Suarez – There were rumors of Suarez being shipped around this offseason to free cap space for the Friars, but ultimately, the Padres will lock him in as their closer for the upcoming season. 

Jeremiah Estrada– Estrada is coming off an excellent year after being picked up from the Cubs last offseason. He hopes to build on last season’s momentum and continue pitching important late innings for San Diego.

Adrian Morejon – Morejon finally had a healthy season for the Padres last season and was electric with his stuff. Originally signing for $11 million in 2016 as a 17-year-old. The southpaw will get late-inning work, primarily against left-handed lineups.

Jason Adam– The Padres acquired Adam last deadline from the Tampa Bay Rays. Many across the league considered him essential to the success of the Padres. Adam is a versatile reliever, as he was used in different situations down the stretch. 

Yuki Matsui– The Padres signed him last season from Japan, and he was a steady left-handed arm out of the pen. Expect him to continue to get more innings this year in a similar role.

Alek Jacob– Jacob spent a lot of time with both the major league club and Triple-A El Paso. Look for him to compete for innings against right-handed lineups.

Wandy Peralta– Peralta signed last offseason to be a veteran southpaw in the Padres bullpen. His role was just that, and the Padres expect him to play a similar role this season.

Bradgley Rodriguez– Rodriguez comes in as the 14th prospect in MLB’s top 30 prospects for the Padres this spring. This would be his first taste at the major league level. He climbed all the way to Double-A San Antonio last season. He throws heat and can look to surprise hitters, as most have yet to face him in their careers.

Catchers

Elias Diaz– The Padres signed Diaz off waivers mid-season last year from Colorado. After Kyle Higashioka took the starting catcher role over Luis Campusano midseason, Diaz provided depth while Campusano went to Triple-A. He appeared in 12 games for San Diego. The franchise hopes there is still some pop left for Diaz, the 2023 All-Star Game MVP. 

Luis Campusano – San Diego benched him and left Campusano off the playoff roster last year in favor of Elias Diaz. Look for Campusano to have a bounce-back season as he tries to regain his starting role this upcoming season.

Infielders

Luis Arraez– Arraez will spend a lot of time at first base as well as DH this upcoming season. He isn’t known for his glove; however, his bat will be included in the everyday lineup. 

Jake Cronenworth- Cronenworth will primarily be playing second base this season as opposed to last season when he split between first and second. Hopefully, this defensive stability can help unlock the previous Jake Cronenworth that the Padres have been missing the past two seasons.

Manny Machado – You can pencil in Machado to an everyday role for the team and one of the main leaders of the Padres. His career speaks for himself as he hits in one of the premier spots of the lineup for the Friars.

Xander Bogaerts– Bogaerts moves back to shortstop this season and the Padres are hoping this will benefit his performance at the plate. Some of Bogaerts’ struggles last season can be attributed to moving positions defensively. The familiarity with shortstop may benefit him this season. The Padres need it to. 

Jose Iglesias– Iglesias feels like a Donovan Solano-type signing with better defensive versatility. Iglesias comes off a season where Mets fans loved him. He was critical to their season and postseason success. He can play all over the infield and is a very useful contact first bat for San Diego.

Eguy Rosario– Rosario is the longest-tenured Padre, having spent the past nine seasons with the team after signing in 2015 as an international free agent. He has spent brief stints with the club, and he hopes to make an impact on the team throughout the season this time. He is also out of options. If he does not make the club, it is very likely he will be designated for assignment. 

Tyler Wade– Wade signed with the team last offseason and was a fan favorite over the season through his hustle mentality and good attitude at all times. His teammates rave about the vibes he brings to the team and the energy that comes with him. The Padres will use him for good late-inning defense and pinch-running situations.

Outfielders

Fernando Tatis Jr – Tatis is well known for his electric style of play. The Friars are hoping to get a full season out of him this coming year. The Padres will slot him in as the everyday right fielder. If he can remain healthy, he will be an MVP favorite in the National League. 

Jackson Merrill – Merrill burst on the scene last year as a 20-year-old rookie and was one of the Padres’ most valuable players. He consistently performed clutch in late-game situations, as well as playing stellar defense out in center field. You can lock him in at center field for the 2025 season.

Tirso Ornelas– Ornelas is looking to get his first taste of the big leagues after a strong spring training start in 2025. He has been in the organization since 2016, and many members rave about his development, especially for this upcoming season. He is hoping to win the Opening Day spot in left field. 

Jason Heyward – Heyward signed with San Diego on a one-year, $1 million deal, and the hope is that he will be a good veteran presence for the young outfield and provide good at-bats against right-handed pitching. 

Will Eskridge