In the race for the fifth spot in the San Diego Padres' starting rotation, German Marquez and JP Sears faced some challenges during their recent outing against the Kansas City Royals at the Peoria Sports Complex. The Padres fell 10-1, with Marquez struggling through his toughest appearance of the spring. His command was off, leading to 1.2 innings of work where he allowed six earned runs on four hits, walked four, and struck out one.
Sears, meanwhile, offered a slightly steadier performance over four innings. He allowed three runs on five hits but managed to rack up six strikeouts and avoided issuing any walks, a silver lining for the Padres as he kept the ball in the park.
Offensively, the Padres were stifled, managing just five hits. Ramon Laureano provided the lone highlight with a home run in the sixth inning. The team will aim to bounce back in their next matchup against the Athletics at Hohokam Stadium in Mesa, Arizona.
In other team news, Padres manager Craig Stammen announced that reliever Bryan Hoeing will undergo elbow surgery, sidelining him for the 2026 season. On a brighter note, starter Matt Waldron faced live hitters and appears to be on track for a return. Additionally, Griffin Canning is on the radar as a potential asset for the rotation once he's cleared to play.
Around the league, a 2013 Aaron Judge baseball card fetched a staggering $5.2 million, setting a new record. The Boston Red Sox bolstered their bullpen by signing free agent reliever Danny Coulombe to a one-year deal, while placing Romy Gonzalez on the 60-day IL.
Zack Wheeler took a significant step in his recovery for the Philadelphia Phillies, throwing live batting practice for the first time since his injury. Meanwhile, the Milwaukee Brewers are hoping for a quick return for starting pitcher Quinn Priester, who will begin the season on the IL but aims to avoid surgery.
The New York Yankees reassigned top prospect George Lombard Jr. to Minors camp, a move that aligns with their development strategy.
For fans eagerly anticipating MLB Opening Night, Netflix and MLB.com have all the viewing details covered.
In the World Baseball Classic, Team USA made some roster adjustments as manager Mark DeRosa prepared for their upcoming clash with Team Italy, looking to clarify his strategy and lineup choices.