Machado (HR), Sheets (two 2Bs) impress in Padres’ spring opener..
PEORIA, Ariz. — Baseball is back (Spring Training baseball at least), and the Padres got their Cactus League slate underway on Friday afternoon at Peoria Stadium.
Here are three takeaways from their 5-2 victory over the Mariners in the spring opener:
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1) A healthy Manny
This time a year ago, the Padres were easing Manny Machado into action after he’d undergone surgery to repair the extensor tendon in his right elbow. Machado spent the early part of the regular season at DH and would not play third base until late April.
This spring? Machado is healthy. Lest there be any doubt, he launched the first pitch he saw 428 feet to straightaway center field, a two-run blast halfway up the batter’s eye at Peoria Stadium.
“Manny healthy is clearly a good sign,” said Padres manager Mike Shildt. “And it’s a good sign for the first swing to get that nice easy stroke into center field for a two-run homer.”
Machado followed with a lineout to right on the first pitch of his next at-bat, and that was the end of his afternoon — two pitches, two swings, two hard-hit baseballs.
In recent seasons, Machado has regularly downplayed the nature of his injuries. No player is ever 100%, he likes to say. But when camp began last week, Machado noted that — for the first time in at least two years — he felt 100% after an injury- and surgery-free offseason.
“It was great, man,” Machado said earlier this week. “Had my regular offseason routine — get ready, get strong and prepare for a long season. I wasn’t able to do that last year. So it was a fresh start.”
2) Bullpen depth galore
Nine San Diego pitchers combined to limit a relatively strong Mariners lineup to two hits — and none of those nine pitchers is projected for a place on the team’s Opening Day roster. It was another reminder of the relief depth the Padres have accrued.
Even if none of Friday’s pitchers are roster favorites, a handful of them are in contention for the last available bullpen spot. Among that group, No. 12 prospect Bradgley Rodriguez was particularly dominant. The hard-throwing right-hander pitched a 1-2-3 fourth inning, recording strikeouts of Mariners regulars Cal Raleigh and Mitch Garver.
“I liked all the guys that came out of the ‘pen,” Shildt said. “There were some arms. Bradgley came in — aggressive body action, stuff comes out crisp, a later-[breaking] slider. I thought he was really crisp.”
Right-hander Logan Gillaspie looked sharp, too, with a perfect second inning that included a strikeout of Randy Arozarena. Ryan Bergert, Omar Cruz and Eduarniel Nuñez were also perfect across an inning apiece.
3) Sheets’ strong first impression
Looking to add a bit of pop to their bench competition, the Padres added Gavin Sheets as a non-roster invitee at the beginning of camp. It’s only one game — no, Sheets’ 3.000 OPS isn’t sustainable — but thus far, he has delivered the pop the Padres were looking for.
Sheets went 2-for-2 with a pair of doubles on Friday — one down the right-field line and one to the left-center-field gap.
