Spring Training is not always meaningful for every player.

Locks to the roster are just trying to ramp up or work on minor changes to their game. While minor leaguers are trying to impress against major league talent. There are rarely players who truly shatter expectations to make a name for themselves during the five weeks of camp.

However, Kyle Hart and Jase Bowen did just that for the Padres this spring.

A mostly forgotten arm impresses

Kyle Hart had a rough first season with the Padres, posting a 5.86 ERA and 37 strikeouts in 43 innings. Despite opening 2025 in the rotation, he quickly got demoted to Triple-A for poor performance. He had some short stints in the Padres bullpen after that and quietly became an extra lefty option in September. The Padres valued his versatility and re-signed him to a one-year, $1,000,000 deal during the offseason. 

Expectations were low for Kyle Hart coming into Spring Training this season. The Padres lacked pitching depth, especially left-handed pitching, yet Kyle Hart was still on the outside looking in. Without good enough stuff to compete for the rotation again and three other left-handed relievers in the bullpen, there was no roster spot to be given to Hart. He had to earn it. 

Hart has done just that. In 13 innings this spring, he has yet to allow a run and racked up 14 strikeouts. His strikeout-to-walk ratio is only bested by Adrian Morejon. His whiff rate is up almost 5%, and he is in the zone more, a great combination. Reuben Niebla obviously made it a point this offseason to completely shift Hart’s pitch mix without making any dramatic mechanical changes. While velocity is up a tick, Hart’s primary change is how he uses the pitches he already has. The splitter has all but completely replaced the changeup, allowing him to better differentiate his sinker from his offspeed and staying out of the bat path of right-handed hitters, two much-needed improvements. The slider usage is up as well, and has a more cutter-like shape, helping it separate from his best pitch, the sweeper. 

All of this, combined with improved command, makes Kyle Hart a strong contender for a spot in the bullpen to open the season. It is rare to see a pitcher improve velocity, movement, and command all in one offseason, but it is just what the doctor ordered for the 33-year-old lefty journeyman. 

A career minor leaguer makes a loud statement

Jase Bowen is a completely foreign name to most, if not all, Padres fans. He was a Pirates’ 11th-round selection in 2019 out of Central Catholic High School in Toledo, Ohio. He bounced around the Pirates’ minor league teams for years, including a stop at all four teams in 2025. Primarily playing in AA, Bowen posted an .802 OPS and 20 stolen bases in 94 games last year. After becoming eligible for free agency this past offseason, A.J. Preller was quick to scoop him up to a minor league contract in November and made him a non-roster invite to spring camp. 

Bowen was primarily seen as minor league outfield depth, as the now 25-year-old had not shown any distinct qualities that pointed to him being an MLB-caliber player. However, a new home seemed to have unlocked something inside Bowen this spring, as he has come out swinging. He leads all Padres in Barrel and Hard-Hit %, meaning he is crushing the ball and doing so at the right launch angles to also earn him the lead in home runs. Only a handful of Padres own a better OPS and wOBA this spring, and he has swiped a team-leading six bags as the cherry on top. Bowen has clearly put an emphasis on generating more power this season, and it has paid off thus far, even against tougher competition than he has seen in the past. 

So, why is Jase Bowen not expected to make the Opening Day roster for the Padres? He still has a way to go when it comes to plate discipline. He is dead last in walk percentage this spring and has a strikeout rate of 28%. Chances are, with a larger sample size, pitchers would be able to take advantage of his tendency to chase out of the zone, and his bat-to-ball ability is not good enough to stay afloat. While his ability to hit pitches in the zone has certainly impressed, Bowen will need to improve his discipline at the plate in order to not to be immediately humbled by savvy big league pitchers. 

2026 Outlook

Regardless, Jase is looking like a solid outfield depth piece to open up the season in the minors. Hopefully, he starts in El Paso, an environment in which his bat will certainly thrive. He should be in prime consideration for a call-up in the event of a significant injury if he stays hot. Despite having never been seen on any top prospect lists, Jase Bowen may be an exciting name to watch for 2026. 

Kyle Hart and Jase Bowen prove that you do not have to have immense talent or be a highly touted prospect to produce like a big leaguer. Everybody has a different path and could be just one adjustment away from contributing to an MLB team. Credit is certainly due to the players, but also the Padres’ front office and coaching staff for finding, acquiring, and coaching these guys into potential contributors to a team with World Series aspirations. Padres fans should hope that Hart and Bowen can continue their spring success and make a meaningful impact on this 2026 team. 

Jacob Larose

Jacob grew up with Padres season tickets and walls plastered with Khalil Greene memorabilia. He has dedicated all of his young professional career towards becoming baseball’s next AJ Preller, having already worked with minor league and college teams in different roles. He is always scouring the Baseball Savant page to find the next little nugget that might help his hometown Padres (or his fantasy baseball team).