SAN DIEGO -- For the second time in less than a week, the Padres placed their starting center fielder on the injured list with a hamstring strain. Last Tuesday, it was Jackson Merrill. On Monday, it was Brandon Lockridge -- who had since taken over for Merrill in center.
In a corresponding move, San Diego promoted Connor Joe from Triple-A El Paso prior to the series opener against the Cubs at Petco Park. But the injuries leave the Padres without a natural center fielder on their active roster.
Here¡¯s a look at their plan for the position -- and why Fernando Tatis Jr. does not appear to be an option (for now):
Who plays center?
The versatile Tyler Wade is the most obvious choice. Wade was promoted to fill a utility role when Jake Cronenworth landed on the injured list on Friday. He entered Monday with 18 career big league appearances in center field -- and he made a number of appearances there during Spring Training.
Wade, a left-handed hitter, was in the starting lineup, playing center on Monday night, facing Cubs right-hander Jameson Taillon. It stands to reason that Wade would get the bulk of the starts there while Lockridge and Merrill are out.
But there¡¯s every chance the Padres would look to sit Wade against left-handed pitching or pinch-hit for him late in games. Which means they need more center-field help on the roster.
Jason Heyward was the next name mentioned by manager Mike Shildt. He has played primarily left field this season and won five Gold Gloves as a right fielder, most recently with the Cubs in 2017. Heyward has made 230 appearances in center -- mostly early in his career. But he did play there three times last year.
¡°I¡¯m an outfielder,¡± said Heyward. ¡°I¡¯ve played all three. I can do whatever I¡¯m asked to do.¡±
It¡¯s possible Heyward could slide to center against lefties, allowing the Padres to put a righty bat like Joe or Oscar Gonzalez in left field. Or, if the Padres wanted to load up on right-handed hitters, Shildt mentioned Joe as a possibility to play center. He¡¯s primarily a first baseman and corner outfielder, but he recently played four games in center with Triple-A El Paso.
Why not Tatis?
The Padres, of course, have an especially rangy right fielder who once aspired to play center field. But Tatis says those days are over.
¡°I¡¯m not going to center,¡± Tatis said. ¡°That¡¯s not on my mind. We haven¡¯t talked about it or nothing, and they haven¡¯t mentioned it. ¡ From my [perspective] right now, I¡¯m not going to center.¡±
Organizationally, there¡¯s little doubt that Tatis would thrive in center field. But the Padres see little reason to ask him to make that change. He¡¯s already one of the best defensive right fielders in baseball, winner of the 2023 Platinum Glove in the National League. Plus, right field at Petco Park is spacious enough where Tatis¡¯ skill set plays. General manager A.J. Preller has often referred to it as ¡°a second center field.¡±
Additionally, Tatis is coming off a season in which he played through a stress reaction in his right leg. Now healthy, Tatis once again looks like a Platinum Glover in right. Really, the Padres just think it isn¡¯t worth shaking things up.
¡°He looks really good in right field,¡± Shildt said. ¡°He¡¯s a Platinum, Gold Glover. I feel like we¡¯ve got a significant strength there. Let¡¯s keep that a strength.¡±
When are Merrill and Lockridge due back?
The plan for Tatis might be a bit different if the Padres needed to find a center fielder for the rest of the season. As it stands, they¡¯re only looking at center-field replacements for the next couple weeks.
Lockridge sustained the injury to his left hamstring while trying to beat out a double play in the seventh inning of the Padres¡¯ victory over the Rockies on Sunday. Initially, Shildt indicated the issue didn¡¯t seem too serious.
¡°We feel good about it again today,¡± Shildt said. ¡°It¡¯s a very mild initial diagnosis. But with hamstrings, any time it happens, you can pretty much guarantee an IL [stint].¡±
Lockridge could return by the end of the month. Merrill, meanwhile, still does not have a timetable for his return from his right hamstring strain. He¡¯s yet to resume running and hasn¡¯t taken full swings.
¡°Really, pretty low-key,¡± Shildt said on Saturday. ¡°As we progress, he¡¯ll start to ramp up, hopefully sooner than later. But we¡¯re going to take our time.¡±