Center field in question as Padres’ Brandon Lockridge exits with injury – San Diego Union-Tribune

The Padres misplaced one heart fielder to a hamstring pressure this week. They hope they haven’t misplaced one other.

Brandon Lockridge exited Sunday’s 6-0 win after attempting to beat out a double play within the seventh inning. The Padres have termed the damage a low-grade hamstring pressure after an ultrasound revealed irritation however no severe muscle injury, Lockridge mentioned, a best-case situation given the circumstances.

“Which is obviously very good,” Lockridge mentioned whereas standing in entrance of his locker along with his left leg wrapped. “Figures to be day-to-day and kind of see how it feels tomorrow when some of the adrenaline and a night of sleep passes.”

Having made the staff as a fourth outfielder, Lockridge has been enjoying every single day in heart subject since Jackson Merrill went on the 10-day injured listing on Tuesday with a proper hamstring pressure. The speedy Lockridge began the season robust, however went 1-for-4 with a bunt single on Sunday and is hitting .194/.265/.258 by means of 13 video games after pulling up lame after attempting to beat out a double play on a grounder to second base.

He mentioned he had incidents with each hamstrings periodically all through his profession, so he knew instantly what he was coping with as he signaled the coaching employees whereas strolling gingerly towards the dugout.

“Right when I made contact with the base, I felt like a kind of a sharp shoot down my hip,” Lockridge mentioned. “I got it checked out by the doctor already and doesn’t seem to be severe. … I know that if I babied it, I could have maybe stayed out there, but I know having this in the past, if I’ve tried to bust it again, it probably makes it much worse.”

With Merrill already out and never but swinging a bat or doing something explosive, the Padres can’t afford a lot worse on the place.

The Padres known as up Oscar Gonzalez when Jackson Merrill (hamstring) hit the injured listing earlier this week. The prospect of one other heart fielder lacking time may have the Padres trying to find a succesful physique in the event that they don’t choose to easily slide Fernando Tatis Jr. to heart.

The 35-year-old Jason Heyward has 192 begins in heart subject in 16 years within the majors, however he’s performed simply seven innings there because the begin of the 2024. Tyler Wade changed Lockridge in heart after Sunday’s exit, however he has fewer begins there (3) than wherever else within the majors, is a .217/.291/.289 hitter in his profession and has been way more productive in spurts off the bench than enjoying over lengthy stretches. Gonzalez has performed solely 9 minor league video games in heart. The opposite outfielder on the 40-man roster, Tirso Ornelas, has performed 68 minor league video games in heart however below-average foot pace and vary profile higher within the corners. Eguy Rosario has additionally begun enjoying heart subject at Triple-A El Paso, however he was faraway from the 40-man roster earlier than opening day.

“We’ll figure it out,” Padres supervisor Mike Shildt mentioned. “Winners find solutions. Somebody’s going to play center field and we expect them to go and do it well.”

Initially Revealed: April 13, 2025 at 4:47 PM PDT