The San Diego Padres faced a setback in their Spring Training journey, falling 5-1 to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday. Despite the loss, there were some bright spots for the Padres.
Fernando Tatis Jr. notched his first two hits of the spring, showing glimpses of his dynamic potential. On the mound, Randy Vasquez impressed with two scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and one walk.
However, Triston Mackenzie struggled in his debut for San Diego, giving up four runs in just two-thirds of an inning, though his velocity was notably up. The Padres will look to regroup as they prepare for their matchup against the Milwaukee Brewers today.
Padres Updates:
The Padres have been active this week, with Nick Castellanos making his debut in the brown and gold. He showcased his versatility by playing first base and made some solid defensive plays. Meanwhile, Matt Waldron's first start of the spring has been a focal point, as his performance could be pivotal for his career trajectory.
AJ Cassavell from Padres.com shared insights from the first three Spring Training games, highlighting the strategic use of players slated for the World Baseball Classic. Notably, Yuki Matsui will sit out the WBC to focus on recovery from an injury.
Sung-Mun Song returned to action, looking healthy at the plate after an offseason injury. Mason Miller also made headlines with his blazing fastballs, clocking in at or above 100 mph in his spring debut.
Around the League:
In other MLB news, free agent first baseman Rhys Hoskins signed a minor league deal with the Cleveland Guardians, receiving an invite to Spring Training.
Shohei Ohtani will not be pitching in the World Baseball Classic, a decision that has caught the attention of fans and analysts alike.
MLB players shared their reactions to Team USA’s victory over Canada in men’s hockey. Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes expressed his motivation to win gold in the WBC, while George Springer of the Toronto Blue Jays sported a USA hockey jersey during batting practice.
The San Francisco Giants pulled off a rare triple play against the Chicago Cubs, adding a highlight to their spring campaign.
A T206 Honus Wagner baseball card, a piece of baseball history, fetched over $5 million at auction, illustrating the timeless allure of baseball memorabilia.
Spring Training has seen its share of fireworks, with Baltimore Orioles’ Pete Alonso hitting his second homer in as many games, and Kyle Schwarber of the Philadelphia Phillies launching a longball in his spring debut.
The New York Yankees faced an unexpected hurdle with a sewage leak disrupting their game day preparations.
Lastly, Minnesota Twins pitcher Joe Ryan received positive news following an MRI, keeping him on track for Opening Day after being scratched from a start.