Spring Training is underway, and the San Diego Padres are already showing signs of a potential offensive shift. Despite finishing last season near the bottom in slugging and home runs, the Padres sparked some excitement in their Cactus League opener against the Seattle Mariners. The game featured a solo shot from Romeo Sanabria in the sixth and a two-run blast by Jose Miranda in the seventh, hinting at a new approach under hitting coach Steven Souza Jr.
With Craig Stammen stepping in as the new manager, Padres fans are seeing changes in the lineup strategy. Last season's reluctance to adjust, particularly with Luis Arraez in the second spot, seems to be a thing of the past.
The new top four-Xander Bogaerts, Jackson Merrill, Manny Machado, and Fernando Tatis Jr.-managed just one hit, an infield single by Bogaerts to kick off the game. Jake Cronenworth, Nick Castellanos, Luis Campusano, Ty France, and Nick Schnell added only two more hits collectively.
It's early days in Spring Training, so there's no need to read too much into these performances. Hitters often take time to find their rhythm, and while Sanabria and Miranda's homers are promising, the big names will likely warm up soon. Cronenworth, for instance, showed promise with solid contact in his two at-bats, only kept off the bases by a stellar diving catch from Seattle's Dominic Canzone.
Defensively, Castellanos impressed at first base. In the fourth inning, he made two key plays: first, ranging right to snag a grounder from J.P. Crawford and flipping it to pitcher Wandy Peralta for an out, and later, diving to stop a hard-hit ball from Colt Emmerson, preventing a potential run.
While Stammen didn't notch his first managerial win with the 7-4 loss, the Padres will have another shot against the Kansas City Royals at Surprise Stadium. As Spring Training unfolds, fans will be watching closely to see how these early adjustments play out.