At the Peoria Sports Complex in Arizona, the San Diego Padres continue to evaluate their pitching roster as spring training progresses. Multiple pitchers are competing fiercely for the few remaining places in the starting rotation, but none have a guaranteed spot yet. Among these is Griffin Canning, a recent signing expected to contribute to the rotation once he regains full health.
Canning took the mound on a side field for a bullpen session—the first time he has done so this spring. The exercise was purposeful, focusing on pitching in specific counts and game situations as he works back from Achilles surgery. Despite the cautious approach, hope remains that he could join the Padres’ rotation later this spring or early summer, providing the team with a more reliable option than some current rotation candidates.
Griffin Canning’s Rehabilitation and Pitching Outlook
Griffin Canning’s one-year deal guarantees $2.5 million, an investment indicating the Padres’ faith in his potential. Prior to his injury, the right-hander had been enjoying arguably the best season of his career with the Mets in 2024, posting a 3.77 ERA over 16 starts. His ability to pitch deep into games and limit runs demonstrated why the Padres view him as a likely key contributor once fully recovered.
Canning is gradually incorporating agility and fielding drills into his routine, although he remains behind some of his peers in returning to complete readiness. Comparatively, reliever Jason Adam, recovering from quad tendon surgery, is further along and could be available by opening day. For Canning, the timeline is more fluid.
I think the way we kind of have it right now is just kind of like let them keep their eyes on me, and if I’m showing that I can go out there and pitch, then we’ll do it. I think it kind of gives me the most peace of mind, too. I don’t have a date in mind necessarily, so I’m not pushing myself harder than it needs to be pushed and not stressing out about, ‘Oh, I need to be back by this day.’ So I’m just listening to my body and taking it one day at a time.
— Griffin Canning, Pitcher
Bullpen Injuries Present Challenges but Also Opportunities
The Padres’ bullpen, while generally strong, is facing uncertainty with injuries impacting key relief pitchers. Bryan Hoeing recently sought a second medical opinion for his elbow but may avoid surgery. He has returned to light exercises but will miss opening day. Left-hander Yuki Matsui, sidelined due to an adductor injury, has not pitched off a mound since mid-February, and Jason Adam is still recovering.
Despite these setbacks, the Padres retain much of their core bullpen intact, including closer Robert Suarez. Numerous pitchers, such as Bradgley Rodriguez and Ty Adcock, are ready to step into roles vacated by injured players, while Kyle Hart is trying to fill Matsui’s left-handed responsibilities.
When you have depth, that means you have a lot of options to choose from. We saw (Monday), Logan Gillaspie and how he threw in that game. He probably wasn’t on all your guys’ list to make the opening day roster, but we have a lot of guys like him that are capable of doing things like that and have major league experience, that are able to get outs in big-league games. So we feel really good about our bullpen at the moment, even with a few injuries kind of cutting us down a little bit.
— Craig Stammen, Manager
Logan Gillaspie’s Strong Spring Performance Highlights Bullpen Depth
Logan Gillaspie has quietly become one of the most promising names vying for a bullpen spot this season. During limited appearances last year, he allowed only two runs in seven innings across three games, maintaining a 4.63 ERA over 40 major league outings. This spring, he has been especially effective, retiring 11 of the 12 batters he has faced and delivering eight clean outs in a recent game.
Gillaspie’s performance exemplifies the Padres’ bullpen depth, showcasing a player capable of stepping up amid injury concerns and demanding roles. His versatility and ability to pitch multiple innings make him a valuable asset as the team manages its pitching resources.
Roster Moves and Remaining Roster Battles
The Padres recently reassigned several pitchers, including left-handers Omar Cruz, Jagger Haynes, and Ryan Och, and right-handers Manuel Castro and Justin Yeager, to minor league camp. With these moves, 67 players remain in major league camp, intensifying competition for the season’s opening roster.
The rotation candidates such as Walker Buehler, Germán Márquez, and JP Sears have shown less consistent results, with ERAs at 4.93 or above. Triston McKenzie has had minimal recent game time, while Marco Gonzales remains in rehab.
With Griffin Canning’s eventual return still uncertain, the Padres face a challenging landscape for their starting rotation and bullpen heading into the season. However, the emergence of pitchers like Logan Gillaspie symbolizes hope as the team balances setbacks and opportunities.
