Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images

Spring Training is finally here after a long winter, and the Padres’ bench is one of the many questions that will have to be addressed before Opening Day.

A.J. Preller made some additions to the roster and signed several players to minor league contracts. In addition, San Diego has a few options returning from last season. The challenge is deciding which options maximize team depth and complement the starting lineup.

In 2025, Preller did a mix-and-match with his bench options throughout the season. The Padres recalled catcher Luis Campusano, and outfielder Tirso Ornelas made his long-awaited major league debut.

These two are still on the 40-man roster, along with infielder Mason McCoy and outfielder Bryce Johnson. Preller made a flurry of trades at the deadline last July. One of those trades brought infielder Will Wagner into the fold.

The team will also see some new faces report to Spring Training. San Diego signed KBO infielder Sung Mun Song to a 4-year, $15 million contract in December. The Padres added Miguel Andujar on a 1-year deal earlier this month.

 

A look at the Padres’ catching options

Campusano is currently projected to be the Padres’ second catcher. Last season, he raked at the Triple-A level. The 27-year-old catcher registered a 1.036 OPS at Triple-A El Paso, belting 25 home runs and 25 doubles. However, he didn’t see the same results at the major league level.

In what can be called a sample size, Campusano made 27 plate appearances for the Padres. He walked six times, but did not record a single hit. He struck out 11 times.

The Padres had a frustrating time finding offense from the catcher position in 2025. In his limited action, Campusano did next to nothing to help the cause. He has a career .666 OPS over six major league seasons. Whether he can take the next step and be a consistent contributor is yet to be seen.

Being the No. 2 catcher behind Freddy Fermin isn’t a guarantee. Position battles aren’t decided by tenure. Preller gave minor league contracts to Blake Hunt, Pedro Silva, and Johanneiker Leon over the winter. None of these three have major league experience. All three are hungry for an opportunity to change that.

 

Credit: AP Photo
The Padres infield bench options

Infield position battles will likely be the most closely watched by Padres fans in Spring Training. One of those battles will be at first base. Luis Arraez has moved on to the NL West rival San Francisco Giants.

One possibility is a platoon of Gavin Sheets and Andujar splitting time between first base and the DH spot. Another possibility is moving Jake Cronenworth over to first from second.

If this were to happen, the infield question mark shifts from first base over to second. In that case, the challenge would be finding the best option at second base.

Sung Moon Song had an OPS above .900 in Korea the past two years. However, what he can do in MLB is yet to be seen. Can he replicate his KBO production at the major league level? The Padres had past success from Ha Seoung Kim, a former fan favorite who now plays for the Tampa Bay Rays.

Another infielder competing for a spot on the 26-man roster is Wagner. He has played in 79 major league games over the past two seasons. He was acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays at the deadline last July. Wagner has a career 89 OPS-plus, which might not seem encouraging to Padres fans.

That leaves McCoy, who has seen limited action over the past two seasons in San Diego. He has a .500 OPS over that span. One name to keep an eye on in Spring Training is the versatile Jose Miranda. He was signed to a minor league contract last month. Miranda has a career .719 OPS over four major league seasons.

 

Finally, which outfielders will make the bench

The Padres will likely carry four bench players on the roster again this season. One of those will go to the No. 2 catcher, whoever that may be. Two more spots will be occupied by infielders.

That leaves just one spot left for an outfielder. Johnson has the most experience heading into 2026. He took a step forward last season as a reliable bench option. In 55 games, Johnson had an .817 OPS and a 127 OPS-plus.

The Padres are hoping Johnson can take another step this season and continue to be that reliable fourth outfielder. It’s safe to assume the role is his to lose going into 2026.

That shouldn’t, however, discount Ornelas. His 2025 season was disrupted by a bout with plantar fasciitis. He returned from injury to Triple-A El Paso in September, hitting five home runs in his first 25 games back.

Ornelas appeared in just seven games at the major league level last season. After getting a taste, Ornelas will want nothing more than to get back with the big league club.

Pitchers and catchers are expected to report by Feb. 11. Four days later, the full squad is expected at Peoria. Spring Training will last nearly six weeks. After that time, these questions will be answered, and the Opening Day roster will be set.

Mike Ursery

Mike is the sports editor for the Fayette Advertiser, and has been with East Village Times since 2015. His work has appeared on Bleacher Report. He is an avid Padres fan who is keeping the faith and trusting the process.

Continue Reading