The San Diego Padres kick off their spring training heading into the 2026 season with renewed urgency amidst payroll pressures, ownership issues, and significant roster moves. Operating in a clear win-now mode, general manager AJ Preller has balanced bold acquisitions with cautious low-risk signings to build a roster capable of competing immediately.
Key offseason additions include the signing of Michael King and former KBO standout Sung-Mun Song, as the team looks to strengthen several positions. However, the losses of Dylan Cease, Luiz Arráez, Robert Suarez, and Ryan O’Hearn have left gaps that will need to be filled as the season approaches.
Preller’s late flurry of signings, featuring Nick Castellanos, Miguel Andújar, Ty France, Germán Márquez, Griffin Canning, and Walker Buehler, bolstered depth while creating an intriguing mix of veteran talent. New manager Craig Stammen faces the task of navigating these options as the team prepares for what promises to be a long and demanding campaign.
Assessing Joe Musgrove’s Return After Surgery
Joe Musgrove, once a cornerstone of the Padres’ starting rotation, is coming off Tommy John surgery with questions surrounding his effectiveness and velocity. Between 2021 and 2024, Musgrove was highly reliable, pitching in 98 games with a 3.20 ERA and recording 585 strikeouts in 559.1 innings. His postseason performance, with a 2.82 ERA across four starts, highlighted his ability to deliver on the biggest stages.
Musgrove’s success stemmed largely from his six-pitch arsenal—four-seam fastball, curveball, cutter, slider, changeup, and sweeper—that kept hitters off balance by working the strike zone and inducing weak contact. Notably, his fastball averaged about 93 mph pre-surgery, allowing other pitches to complement his approach.
The critical factor to watch this spring is whether Musgrove has regained his velocity and command to effectively trust all of his pitches again. Post-surgery recovery for pitchers often involves rebuilding feel and confidence, which are vital for generating swings and misses and maintaining effectiveness.
Competition for the Padres’ Fifth Starter Spot
The uncertainty surrounding the final spot in the starting rotation has intensified this spring. Matt Waldron made a promising start, showcasing increased velocity on both his fastball (up to 93.3 mph from 90.1 mph last season) and knuckleball (rising to 82.5 mph from 79.4 mph). Despite this, Waldron’s knuckleball-heavy approach usually results in inconsistency, and a current week-to-week setback due to a hemorrhoid issue further clouds his availability.
Triston McKenzie, looking to rebound from multiple injuries that hampered his early career, flashed potential with a velocity jump during his spring training debut. His pitch topped out at 98.7 mph, well above his previous high of 96.5 mph, signaling a healthy arm and an elevated ceiling. McKenzie must now demonstrate control and the ability to use his curveball effectively to secure a rotation role.
Veteran options Walker Buehler and Germán Márquez, who also recently underwent Tommy John surgery, have yet to pitch in spring games but remain contenders. Márquez aims to reach mid-to-high 90s velocity and rely on his knucklecurve to dominate hitters, while Buehler looks for improved velocity to regain elite status.
Griffin Canning rounds out the potential starters, currently working his way back from Achilles surgery. After showing a rejuvenated changeup last season with the Mets, he is gradually returning to throwing off the mound and performing agility drills, with a hopeful return to game speed by late April or early May pending successful rehab progress.
Exploring Sung-Mun Song’s Role and Versatility
Sung-Mun Song arrives in San Diego after establishing himself as a top hitter in the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO), boasting consecutive seasons with an OPS over .900 along with 25 stolen bases and 26 home runs in 2025. While primarily a third baseman in Korea, Song’s versatility has been noted with attempts at first base, outfield, and designated hitter duties during spring training.
Despite his adaptability, Song faces a challenging path to regular playing time due to the team’s strong infield core featuring Manny Machado at third base, Xander Bogaerts at shortstop, Jake Cronenworth at second, and another occupant of first base. The outfield is similarly crowded, raising questions about how much at-bats Song will realistically secure.
Manager Craig Stammen’s ability to carve out consistent opportunities for Song will be pivotal. Like most international players, adjustment to major league pitching is a process, so initial performance should be interpreted cautiously. If given steadiness in playing time, Song has the potential to be a dynamic 20-20 threat, combining speed with power.
Luis Campusano’s Opportunity for a Breakout Backup Role
The Padres’ decision-making around Luis Campusano has been somewhat puzzling, but spring training offers him another chance to prove his value as a backup catcher behind Freddie Fermin. The team has not added any other major league catching options this offseason, indicating confidence or necessity in Campusano’s development.
To secure this role, Campusano must translate his minor league offensive production to the majors and simultaneously improve defensively. The Padres’ reliance on him could hinge on both these factors aligning during spring and beyond.
Experimentation with Lineup Compositions
Craig Stammen has injected variety into the Padres’ lineup during spring training, testing different batting orders and roles for key players. Notably, Xander Bogaerts was positioned as the leadoff hitter in the initial spring game, with Fernando Tatis Jr. hitting fourth—marking a notable change from last season’s lineup structure.
Subsequent adjustments included moving Tatis to second in the batting order and Eddie Sheets into the fourth spot, with frequent alternations between right-handed and left-handed hitters throughout the lineup. This experimentation may be a means to discover optimal comfort and performance for individual players or could foreshadow tactical matchups the team plans to use during the regular season.
As the regular season draws near, greater clarity is expected regarding how Stammen will deploy his considerable platoon options and finalize the lineup. For now, the variety of configurations provides an intriguing preview of the team’s offensive strategy.
