The Padres returned to the diamond Thursday night, squaring off against the Kansas City Royals at Peoria Stadium after a spring break. The Royals sent 2025 All-Star Kris Bubic to the mound, while San Diego countered with German Marquez in his third spring outing.
Marquez’s Rough Start
German Marquez, a familiar face from his days with the Rockies, had a challenging night. His first inning was a whirlwind, as he allowed the first four Royals to reach base through a single, a hit-by-pitch, a two-RBI double, and a walk.
Though he managed to retire two batters, another walk ended his stint, bringing in minor leaguer Sam Whiting. Marquez returned for the second inning, retiring Nick Loftin and Josh Rojas before allowing three more to reach base on a single, a walk, and an RBI single.
He closed his night by inducing a groundout, finishing with 1 2/3 innings, four hits, six earned runs, four walks, and a strikeout. Of his 58 pitches, only half found the strike zone.
Bullpen Shines Bright
Adrian Morejon, coming off a breakout 2025 season, was stellar in relief. Over two innings, he faced six batters and struck out four consecutively. Morejon's 23-pitch performance was highlighted by a sinker that peaked at 99.4 mph, showcasing his potential as a key bullpen piece.
Freddy Fermin made use of the new ABS challenge system, successfully overturning two strike-three calls in the fourth inning.
David Morgan closed the ninth for San Diego, surrendering two hits but striking out two with a mix of curveballs and high fastballs.
Sears Struggles to Find Rhythm
JP Sears, another contender for a rotation spot, took the mound for innings five through eight. He gave up five hits and three earned runs while striking out six.
Despite his struggles this spring, Sears managed a clean eighth inning. With minor league options available, he might not make the Opening Day roster.
Padres’ Bats Silenced by Royals
The Padres' offense struggled, managing just four hits. Freddy Fermin stayed hot with an opposite-field double off Bubic in the third.
Ramón Laureano provided the lone Padres run with a sixth-inning solo homer off Steven Cruz. Non-roster invitee Nick Schnell impressed with a ninth-inning double clocked at 114.7 mph off the bat.
Looking Ahead to Mesa
Next up, the Padres travel to Mesa to face the Athletics’ split squad on Friday. Michael King will start for San Diego, aiming for a stronger outing, while Aaron Civale takes the mound for the A’s.
The game at Hohokam Stadium starts at 1:05 PM PT/MT, available for in-market viewers on Padres.TV and out-of-market on MLB Network. Radio listeners can catch the action on 97.3 The Fan.