PADDACK SHARP IN SPRING DEBUT
This was what Chris Paddack needed in order to move forward in what is for him a crucial spring.
What he showed in two hitless innings, striking out three batters and throwing strikes early and often among his 22 pitches is about as good as the Padres could have hoped for as well.
“That’s exactly what we wanted to see,” manager Jayce Tingler said after Monday’s 1-0 loss to the Cubs. “That’s the way he’s been throwing the ball all through camp. … Obviously, adrenaline goes today and facing really good hitters on that side, for him to carry that in, it was a great step.”
Paddack’s fastball command, which is what he lacked much of last season, was the focus that promoted some offseason mechanical changes.
“Especially at the bottom of the zone, we were able to establish that,” Paddack said. “… I was very pleased with being able to execute that with getting ahead in the count. It’s going to be a big factor to use that fastball in the bottom of the zone this year to set up my change-up.
The Cubs’ only baserunner came on a two-out walk in the first inning. Paddack started that frame by getting Anthony Rizzo to chase a two-strike change-up for the first out and ended it by getting Javier Báez to swing through an elevated fastball. His other strikeout came in the second inning when David Bote missed a changeup. Paddack, who also threw his curveball and cutter for strikes Monday, acknowledged allowing poor results to snowball to an extent during an uneven 2020 in which he finished with a 4.73 ERA, 1.30 higher than his rookie season.
“My game plan wasn’t necessarily the result,” he said of Monday’s outing. “It was focus on the mental side of the game. It’s very challenging out there. … Slowing the game down. I talked with Larry (Rothschild, the Padres pitching coach) and told him I’m proud of myself being able to execute the pitch that was in front of me.”
Kim a hit
Ha-seong Kim is 1-for-4 in his first two spring training games, but the result is rarely the aim this time of year.
The Korean import has hit four balls hard. He flied out to the outfield twice Sunday and lined a ball directly at the left fielder his first time up Monday before lacing a hard single between shortstop and third base in the fourth inning.
“If you like line drives, I guess it’s good,” Tingler said of Kim, who served as designated hitter Sunday and played shortstop Monday. “Four plate appearances, four barrels. He’s off to a really good start.”
Marcano adds a spot
After talent and depth, versatility is the concept being stressed most often by folks in the Padres organization.
The intent to develop players that can help at multiple positions extends past the major league level.
Tucupita Marcano, the 21-year-old infielder who is the organization’s fourthranked position prospect, started and played six innings in left field. The lefthanded hitter singled in both his at-bats, one to center field and the other to right.
Marcano played second, shortstop and third base but never in the outfield in three minor league seasons. The outfield is not easy to play under Arizona’s bright blue sky, and Marcano made a nice play to record the second out in the first inning.
“I love that he plays a ton of positions,” Tingler said. “I love how he runs. I love how he puts the ball in play to all fields.”
Sheriff got a hand
Paddack may have had an additional advantage in catcher Victor Caratini starting Monday.
“He needs to get some credit,” Paddack said. “He knows these guys.”
Caratini spent the past four seasons with the Cubs before being traded to the Padres along with Yu Darvish in December.
Notable
The Padres continue to reload their farm system, signing 17-year-old Victor Lizarraga, a right-handed pitcher out of Mexico, and 17year-old Riley Yeatman ,a right-hander out of Australia, within the last week. Lizarraga is ranked No. 34 in Baseball America’s 2020-21 top international prospects list. His signing bonus was expected to top $1 million.
The Padres view Yeatman as Australia’s top pitching prospect.
• Right-hander Anderson Espinoza appeared sharp in a live batting practice. He got misses with his curve and a popping fastball and generally was around the plate. Espinoza, the Padres’ top prospect in 2016, is working back from a second Tommy John surgery and is expected to be ready to begin the minor league season.
• Tingler indicated lefthanded reliever Jose Castillo could get in a game soon. Castillo, who missed last season with a lat strain, has thrown two bullpen sessions since the start of spring. He has pitched in one big-league game since 2018 due to various injuries.
• After playing seven innings Monday, the Padres hope to get a nine-inning game in today against the Diamondbacks. Said Tingler of his conversations with Arizona manager Torey Lovullo: “We’re both trying for nine. … We’re going to circle the wagons at the end of the day and also one more time tomorrow morning and kind of see where we’re at.” Teams have the option to play five, seven or nine innings the first two weeks of the spring schedule.
• As they walked off the field following the game, Tingler had a lengthy conversation with Cubs bench coach Andy Green, who managed the Padres from 2016 until he was fired with nine games remaining in 2019.