MUSGROVE SINKS INTO HIS WORK
The Padres are insistent Joe Musgrove use his sinker more this season, and Musgrove is complying.
He knows over the course of a regular six-month season, as opposed to 2020 when he made eight starts and totaled 392⁄3 innings, it will be imperative he is effective with as many pitches as possible, both to keep hitters off-balance and preserve his arm.
“I’d like to have a good fastball and change-up to get me through outings and not just rely on spin so much,” Musgrove said Monday.
The right-hander spoke after allowing five runs on eight hits in fourplus innings of a spring training game against the Kansas City Royals. At one point in the game, the back of his hand was bleeding due to his skin having cracked in the dry Arizona air. For most of the afternoon, he struggled with command and had to try to get out of unfavorable counts while sticking to the commitment to work on his sinking fastball and change-up.
“I was working on some things today I’m really not used to doing,” he said. “No better time to do it than now. I was pitching a little different than I would on a normal day. Some executed, some poorly executed. … I had other weapons, but these guys are real firm believers in my sinker being a good weapon to lefties, so I’m giving it a shot and want to work it as much as I can before we get into the season.”
Notable
Manager Jayce Tingler said infielder Ha-seong Kim will get work in the outfield this week, likely in left field. The team wanted the rookie from Korea to get comfortable before trying a new position.
• A day after taking on-field batting practice for the first time, center fielder Trent Grisham played catch. The hope is Grisham, who suffered a hamstring strain March 11, can continue to progress without setback and be ready opening day. The Padres, however, have said they won’t push it.
• The 5-foot-11 Adrian Morejon
can be ruled out as the opening-day starter. While Tingler has declined to say who will pitch against the Diamondbacks on April 1, he said Monday “it will be somebody taller than 6-4. It’s going to be a very big person on the mound.” Yu Darvish, who appears lined up to get the opening-day nod, is 6-foot-5. So are Chris Paddack and Joe Musgrove. Blake Snell
is listed at 6-4, but Tingler insisted, “He’s 6-5 when you get up on him.”
• Right-hander Jacob Nix had Tommy John surgery last week.