The Padres' spring training opener might have ended in a 7-4 loss, but if you were watching closely, you caught a glimpse of something intriguing. Nick Castellanos starting at first base is more than just a lineup shuffle-it’s a potential game-changer.
In the fourth inning, Castellanos made two plays that went beyond typical spring training action. The first was a smooth move to his right on a J.P.
Crawford grounder. He fielded it with ease and flipped the ball underhand to Wandy Peralta at first.
It was seamless-no awkwardness, no signs of a player adjusting to a new position. Just a clean, confident play.
But it was the second play that really caught attention. With a runner on second, Colt Emerson hit a sharp grounder.
Castellanos dove to his right, popped up, and fired an overhand throw to Peralta, ending the inning and preventing the Mariners from extending their lead. He looked like he belonged there, like a natural.
For Padres fans, this sparks a lot of possibilities. If Castellanos can hold his own at first, it opens up lineup flexibility. It means keeping a strong bat in the lineup without sacrificing defense, and it provides insurance against depth issues.
Of course, it’s too early to declare him the solution based on two plays in February. But those plays didn’t feel like flukes-they seemed repeatable. The Padres don’t need Castellanos to be a defensive wizard; they just need him to fit in when the games start counting.
For now, he’s shown he can do just that. And that’s why this spring training trial might evolve into something much more significant.