MESA, Ariz. — Nick Castellanos is making the most of his new position with the San Diego Padres, showcasing both his batting skills and defensive adjustments during spring training. Having signed with the Padres on February 14, Castellanos is preparing to play first base for the first time professionally after spending most of his career at third base and in right field. This early season work aims to help him and the Padres fill crucial roles as they head toward the regular season beginning March 26.
Castellanos, a 13-season veteran, has been dedicating mornings to intense defensive drills with infield coach Ryan Goins. He described the process as enjoyable despite the complexities of learning a new position.
“Probably say definitely going over the details,”
Castellanos said.
“There’s a lot of components to first base. But honestly, I’m having a blast doing it. It doesn’t seem like work at all, so I’m enjoying it. Ryan is very good at what he does.”
In his second Cactus League start at first base on Tuesday afternoon, Castellanos had two hits, including a double on the 11th pitch of a prolonged at-bat during the Padres’ 6-5 loss to the Chicago Cubs. Padres manager Craig Stammen praised his effort, noting,
“He had a great at-bat there, and it paid off. He stayed in the at-bat, fouled off a bunch of good pitches, made some good swings, got his pitch and hit it off the wall.”
Defensively, Castellanos performed steadily through four innings, with his most daring moment coming when he sprinted back about 40 feet to make a catch on a pop fly in foul territory. However, adjusting to first base involves more than routine plays; it requires shifting instinctual movements, such as running toward the bag instead of directly at the ball. Castellanos also needs to learn his positioning as a cut-off man and other game-specific reactions that only experience can build.
He acknowledged the challenge ahead, saying,
“I’d probably just say, like, where I’d have to be in game situations. Just certain things that you can’t really practice. You just have to wait until, like, a game situation, just to kind of be in the right spot at the right time. So prepare the best I can, but also give myself grace to be able to learn in the game situations.”
Matt Waldron to Miss Start of Season Due to Surgery Recovery
The Padres’ rotation competition faces an early shakeup as right-hander Matt Waldron is expected to miss the season’s start while recovering from recent surgery. Waldron underwent a procedure related to a painful infection, and his return timeline remains uncertain, likely delaying any baseball activities for about two weeks. The March 26 season opener looms during this recovery window.
Manager Craig Stammen explained the situation, saying,
“Had an infection in his rear end and had to have surgery to drain it and make it better. … He’ll be out week to week, depending on how that incision heals and how he’s feeling moving around.”
Waldron had pitched two scoreless innings during spring training before the setback.
With Waldron sidelined, the Padres now have Walker Buehler, Marco Gonzales, Germán Márquez, Triston McKenzie, and JP Sears competing for likely a single rotation spot. However, there remains a possibility that the team could utilize a six-man rotation early in April, which would open a second slot to earn.
Since Waldron is out of minor league options, placing him on the injured list may be necessary for the Padres to retain him without risking waiver exposure, especially since he is expected to sit out pitching duties at least through mid-March.
Marco Gonzales Returns to the Mound After Long Injury Hiatus
Left-hander Marco Gonzales made his first pitching appearance in over 18 months, returning after missing all of last season while rehabbing from flexor tendon surgery performed in August 2024. The 34-year-old expressed an emotional response during the national anthem before his start, a moment he hadn’t anticipated.
“I just kind of took a moment to appreciate it,”
Gonzales said.
His outing on Tuesday was uneven, featuring a difficult first pitch hit hard to center field, followed by three singles and two hit batters over 1⅔ innings. Gonzales admitted he initially allowed emotion to influence his pitching but soon refocused on doing his job.
“I felt like right away I was kind of using the emotion of it and trying to let that fuel me a little bit. And then once I came down, I realized, ‘OK, I’ve got to get back to doing my job.’ But I just was appreciative of clean, healthy innings.”
Padres manager Craig Stammen recognized the challenges that come with returning to the big league stage after injury. He said,
“Especially for him, coming off injury and wanting to be back on this stage — I know it’s spring training, but big-league stadium, big-league uniforms — there are gonna be nerves, gonna be emotions. But he did fine.”
Gonzales’s aspirations extend beyond simply rejoining the rotation. With 162 starts across 10 major league seasons, he has an assignment clause allowing him to sign with another team willing to place him on their MLB roster, should the Padres decide not to keep him on the major league club. “I’m trying to compete,” Gonzales said.
“I’m not looking at this as just trying to make it back. I’m trying to go and be the pitcher I know I can be and go out and dominate like I know I can. So, for me, it was a good step. But the first of many, for sure.”
Rotation Battles and Roster Decisions Shape Padres’ Spring
With Waldron sidelined, the Padres’ rotation competition remains fierce as pitchers vie for limited starting roles. Walker Buehler, Germán Márquez, Triston McKenzie, Marco Gonzales, and JP Sears are all contenders, and the possibility of a six-man rotation in early April offers some roster flexibility.
The pitching staff’s depth and health status will be crucial in the Padres’ strategy, especially with experienced arms like Gonzales working to return to form and younger starters seeking to break through. How these players perform in the remaining spring training weeks is expected to influence major decisions for the opening days of the regular season.
Implications for the Padres’ Infield and Overall Lineup
Castellanos’s transition to first base impacts not only defensive configurations but also offensive opportunities for the Padres. Sharing first base time with Gavin Sheets in a platoon system could provide the team with flexibility and strategic matchups. Castellanos’s willingness to embrace the new role and his evident success at the plate in spring games is an encouraging development for the Padres as they build toward the season.
Overall, the combination of roster uncertainties in the pitching rotation and Castellanos’s adaptation to first base highlights the ongoing adjustments the Padres are making early in the preseason. These efforts reflect the team’s intent to maximize talent and remain competitive throughout the upcoming MLB campaign.
