Who’s hot and who’s not for Padres after 8-2 start
Apr 1, 2025; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres center fielder Jackson Merrill (3) is congratulated after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images
The Padres are a solid 8-2 after 10 games. Which players are fueling the hot start, and which need to catch fire soon?
Hot
First off, this was a good week to be Jackson Merrill, on and off the field. Not only is he batting .378 with a team-high three homers to start the season, but he’s a rich man. Earlier this week, the Padres announced that the team and the 21-year-old All-Star agreed to a nine-year, $135 million extension. On the field, he has come through in the clutch more than any other Padre, which is right where he left off last year.
It should put a smile on every Padres fan’s face, knowing Merrill will be in brown and gold for the next decade.
Are we witnessing this year’s Jurickson Profar? That is, a player coming in on a cheap, prove-it deal and…proving it. First, he was the hero on Opening Day against the Braves. With the Padres down 4-3, he launched a pinch-hit solo homer to tie the game and spark the comeback. That wasn’t the only time he played hero in the first 10 games. Just Sunday, during San Diego’s roller-coaster victory over the Cubs, Sheets singled home the tying run in the eighth. Overall, he hit .385 with a .984 OPS in the first 10 games.
Gavin ties it up! pic.twitter.com/eV77MET30N
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) April 6, 2025
The man setting the table for the chaos the Padres want to unleash is No. 23 himself. Tatis looks very comfortable in the leadoff spot. He leads the team with nine runs scored, which is the fourth most in the National League. He is tied for the team lead with 14 hits, leading to a .368 average. His power numbers and walks also add up to a .914 OPS. While he isn’t setting the world on fire with homers quite yet, he is doing just about everything else. That includes five stolen bases, including one at home plate.
Padres double steal of home successful; Luis Arraez and Fernando Tatis Jr. pic.twitter.com/WZD5SDPYIc
— Carlos (@LFGPads19) April 2, 2025
One of the most underrated and valuable moves Preller made last summer was acquiring Rays’ setup man Jason Adam. He started his first full season with the Padres about as good as you can do it, with five scoreless outings. That includes eight strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings.
After an up-and-down debut with San Diego last year, Peralta seems to have settled into his role with the Padres in 2025. His six straight scoreless outings to begin the year is a testament to that, with a microscopic 0.38 WHIP to boot.
Adam, Peralta, and Estrada are the three relievers the Padres boast who currently own a five-plus appearance scoreless streak to open the year. Overall, the Padres’ bullpen has been perhaps the best unit in baseball to start the season.
Not
While Bogaerts isn’t totally going into the tank, he is yet to really catch fire either. This is a critical year for him after a very disappointing and lackluster 2024 in San Diego. So far, it’s been more of the same. That includes grounding into two double plays and striking out eight times. His .678 OPS leaves much to be desired.
While Gurriel played hero last Saturday, driving in the only run of the game in a 1-0 win over the Braves. Unfortunately, that is his only knock as a Padre in 14 plate appearances. That includes three strikeouts where he looked overmatched. The almost-41-year-old needs to get some big hits soon before he runs out of chances.
Whatever we said about Gurriel, ditto for Heyward. While he adds some value as a solid defender, his bat has been virtually nonexistent. He is 2-for-18 with five strikeouts. He might have a longer leash than Gurriel due to his defensive prowess, but he needs to pick it up at the plate.
After a solid debut with the Padres last week to the tune of five innings and two runs. Unfortunately, that was undone by a brutal start in Chicago on Sunday that saw him leave before even logging three outs. Hart had command issues, walking four and allowing five earned runs while just getting two outs in the first inning.
This was not an encouraging outing after a solid debut. He will need to bounce back in start No. 3.
Jacob leads all Padres relievers with three earned runs allowed and is tied for the staff lead with two homers allowed. While Jacob isn’t going to be relied on as a late-inning, high-leverage arm, he needs to put together some solid outings quickly.
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.