Padres Spring Training Report – Mar. 24th, 2015

The Friars walked away with a 6-4 win over their complex mates the Mariners today.  But let’s take a look at what really matters which is how the principals performed, so let’s take a look.

• Justin Upton – 2 for 3 today with a double, a home run, 2 RBIs (yes, I am a supporter of the plural abbreviation of Runs Batted In), and 2 runs scored. He’s hitting .324 and 9 of his 11 hits are for extra bases.  He’s played an excellent left field in the process as well that has gone largely ignored especially considering the challenging sun and wind conditions of Cactus League play that has hampered just about every other outfielder in the league. It’s no wonder Preller has been public about wanting to sign him to a longer term deal with his pending free agency looming after this season.
• Matt Kemp – 2 for 4 with a triple, RBI, and a run scored today.  He’s hitting .382 with an OPS (on base + slugging %) of 1.123.  For perspective the league average last year was .700.  His triple was indicative of how hard he’s played and hustled all spring. Nothing but good things to continue to report about every aspect of his play and presence both on the field and off so far since putting on a Padres uniform.
• Will Middlebrooks – 2 for 4 with an RBI to raise his average to .333 this Cactus League. Continues to play an excellent defensive third base.
• Chris Rearick –  The left handed non-roster invitee just continues to get people out.  Simple as that.  Not overpowering in any way, just locates his fastball down on the zone to both corners, and doesn’t make mistakes with his sweeping breaker. He doesn’t beat himself, and appears to stay calm with runners on.  Opening some eyes for sure as a left handed bullpen option.
• Alex Torres – Solid inning today with the highlight for me being the effectiveness of his breaking ball against the two left handers he retired.  He’s plenty tough on righties with his filthy changeup, but to be equally tough on lefties the breaking ball command will be almost a paramount as his rhythm to the outside fastball command.
• Shawn Kelley – After allowing 5 runs in his first two outings, he’s now posted 5 scoreless outings including today’s, striking out 6 and allowing only 1 hit during this scoreless stretch. He seems to be well positioned to make the club’s highly competitive bullpen opening day.

A fairly significant move, in my opinion, was made today as Austin Hedges was reassigned to the minor league side.  With Federowicz down with his knee surgery the question was hanging out there whether Hedges might be the answer to back up Norris.  I don’t think anyone doubts whether he can defensively handle himself at the MLB level, but the bat is another question.  With this being a potential playoff season every win will matter from the first game to hopefully the last.  Is the defensive impact of his being able to back up Norris more important than the potential stall of Hedges offensive development?  This move probably says for the Pads the answer is no.  That doesn’t mean that he can’t still be called up for opening day after getting some consistent at bats on the minor league side, but it seems the Friars are taking the longer view on Hedges development and wanting him to get his hitting up to speed before his inevitable MLB debut sometime down the road.

With the move there are now 44 players in camp.  Will Nieves and Rocky Gale are the remaining full time catchers in camp, along with part time receiver Cody Decker.

Along with who will be the back up catcher, there are still decisions to be made on the final bullpen set up, as well as the make up of the bench, with 9 spring games left to decide.

Tomorrow the Pads will play the Dodgers at Camelback.  Game at 1:05 with Ted Leitner and Jesse Agler bringing you the action on The mighty 1090.

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