The San Diego Padres had a banner day on the baseball field on Monday. They came back from a 5-1 deficit with a six-run bottom of the eighth inning. That was great, but not necessarily the big story. That honor went to a perfect usage of the new ABS challenge system. Catcher Freddy Fermin had three calls overturned from balls to strikes with the system. Two calls were at the bottom of the strike zone, and one was at the top. Ethan Salas followed suit when he replaced Fermin and had one call overturned. Jose Miranda completed the challenges when he got a called strike overturned to a ball resulting in a walk in the six-run eighth. The system seemed to held the home plate umpire accountable for his calls and worked just as was described by Major League Baseball.
Padres News:
- Randy Vasquez looked sharp in his first action of Spring Training against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday. He allowed one hit and walked one in two scoreless innings. Lincoln Zdunich of Gaslamp Ball thinks that could be a preview of a big season from Vasquez as he looks to solidify his position in the rotation and on the San Diego roster.
- Joe Musgrove returning after a lost season after Tommy John surgery. Luis Campusano looking to prove he can compete at the major league level. Nick Castellanos changing positions while trying to show he has more in the tank after being released by the Philadelphia Phillies. These are just a few of the players AJ Cassavell of Padres.com says are the most important to watch this spring.
- Garrett Hawkins impressed at the lower levels of the Padres system and now has his sights set on making the big-league roster with San Diego. The roster spots available for position players is tight as well due what appears to be a surprising amount of depth according to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune.
- JP Sears struggled in his first spring outing and did not get through the first inning and Miguel Andujar hit his first home run in a Padres uniform in an eventful day on and around the diamond in Peoria, Ariz., which included an early morning meeting to discuss MLBPA business.
- Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune gives a progress report for the Padres to discuss the financials of the team as well as the importance of additions to the roster.
- The Padres designated outfielder Tirso Ornelas for assignment on Feb. 17, and he cleared waivers today which meant a return to the San Diego organization. He is back in camp with the Padres.
Baseball News:
- Free agent outfielder Michael Conforto and the Chicago Cubs agreed on a minor league deal.
- It has been announced that Detroit Tigers ace, Tarik Skubal, will make just one start for Team USA in the upcoming World Baseball Classic.
- Japanese infielder Kazuma Okamoto, who signed with the Toronto Blue Jays, recorded his first home run and RBI of the spring.
- It is almost time for fantasy baseball drafts and Corbin Young of Yahoo.com provides some insight on 2026 trends you need to know before your draft.