Credit: EVT Sports Peoria
Bats kept quiet, although an intriguing lineup was used on Sunday.
The Padres lost their second game of Spring Training to the Dodgers, 5-1, at Peoria Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Although the regular starters have been quiet at the plate early this spring, the lineup construction has certainly raised interest in fans.
Skipper Craig Stammen penciled in the core four in the same order that he rolled out in the Spring Training opener on Friday: Bogaerts, Merrill, Machado, and Tatis Jr. A peek as to what this lineup could ultimately turn out as.
It feels good to be back 💛 pic.twitter.com/WOqbGT69wv
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) February 22, 2026
Randy doing dandy
Randy Vásquez took the bump for San Diego in his Spring debut, as a projected four or five starter, come season time. In his two innings of action, he allowed a base hit to Will Smith, walked a batter, and struck out prospect Zach Ehrhard.
Vásquez had an uptick in his fastball velocity, showing fastball velocities of 97 mph and higher, three times on Sunday in limited action.
In 2025, his four-seamer averaged 95 mph, with his sinker averaging 94 mph. Could this have been a case of being amped up for his first outing? Yes. Is this also something that should be monitored this spring in the competition rotation battle? Also, yes. Perhaps, his increased fastball velocity could help his frequently used cutter and curveball versus left-handers. A season ago, Vásquez allowed a .652 OPS to right-handers, while struggling to a .764 opponent OPS to those on the left side.
A Randy Vasquez 80-grade changeup vs. James Tibbs III:
89.2 mph
2.8” iVB
21.1” horizontal break
2258 rpms
5.9 vRel pic.twitter.com/EtYOL7Cmog
— Clark Fahrenthold (@CFahrenthold11) February 22, 2026
Few bright spots in suppressed bats
Fernando Tatis Jr. recorded the two total hits from the Padres’ starting nine. He ripped both of his hits to right field. The first one was off L.A.’s starter Jackson Ferris with a 77.7 mph exit velocity, and his second one was roped at 106.8 mph off the bat of Dodger pitcher Garrett McDaniels.
Manny Machado finished 0-for-1 with a pop out and was the only other base runner from the starting nine, drawing a walk in the first inning, in a six-pitch battle. With Tatis Jr. batting after the third baseman, it provides Machado a form of protection, essentially giving him more hitters’ pitches to do damage against. Bogaerts, Merrill, Machado, Cronenworth, Castellanos, Sheets, and Campusano went a combined 0-for-14 versus Dodger pitching.
Signs of life from the Padres’ bats today came from Nick Solak and his eighth-inning two-out double. The day after going yard in Surprise, Solak contributes as the lone Padres run. Shortstop, Clay Dungan produced in his two at-bats, hitting Solak in on an infield single.
Potential major league contributors
Coming back from an offseason oblique injury, it was a welcome sight to see Sung-Mun Song get some action.
He got two at-bats, striking out and lining out. Song replaced Machado and took over his third base duties. Will Wagner and Ty France each got an at-bat in this game, each of them failing to record a base hit.
Arms scrapping for a spot
Triston McKenzie made his first in-game impression in his Catcus League debut on Sunday. Unable to get out of the third inning, in which he started, McKenzie forced two outs while allowing four earned runs. In 26 pitches, 12 of which were strikes, he struggled with his command in both his curveball and his four-seam fastball.
McKenzie allowed two hits and walked a few batters in his Padres debut. He and Vásquez both with interesting developments with their rise in velocities. 29-year-old Michael Flynn finished McKenzie’s inning, walking two men and recording 1/3 of an inning.
Triston McKenzie sat 95.9 MPH on his fastball today and hit 98.7 MPH!
He struggled with locating his pitches overall, but the ridiculous increase in velocity will be one of the must-follow Spring Training stories.
His previous career-high was 96.5 MPH. pic.twitter.com/oQJzaV5nSR
— LouisAnalysis (@LouisAnalysis) February 22, 2026
Relieving right-handed pitcher Flynn, left-hander Kyle Hart completed two very solid innings of work in the fourth and fifth innings.
After walking Miguel Rojas on four pitches to start his fourth inning, he was able to retire the following three batters, one of whom batters being three-time MLB All-Star catcher Will Smith. Hart was around the zone for a great portion of his innings today, throwing 22 pitches with 14 of them being strikes. His sweeper remains his “out” pitch as it was in 2025, recording three of his six recorded outs with it.
After two short Major League appearances in 2025, Omar Cruz looks to impress again as a back-end depth rotational piece from the left side. On Sunday, Cruz tossed a scoreless inning, inducing a ground ball double play to the son of former Padre Phil Nevin, Kyle Nevin.
After signing a one-year Major League contract with the club in December, Ty Adcock made his first appearance on Sunday. Adcock battled, throwing 28 pitches in his lone inning, allowing three hits, one earned run, while striking out two batters. A project pitcher for Ruben Niebla and staff as they look to translate his grade of pitches to results.
Another offseason signee in Sean Boyle, also looked quite sharp in his quick two shutout frames. In 18 pitches, he retired six out of seven batters faced, walking Dodgers #1 prospect, Josue De Paula. Boyle struck out two Dodgers.
2025 Pitch Quality (82 Pitches) ⭐️
4.94 QOPA (Top 9% MLB) 🤩
Cutter 5.15 QOPA (Top 3%)
Fastball 5.23 QOPA (Top 6%)
Slider 4.70 QOPA (Top 10%)
Splitter 3.35 QOPA (Bottom 17%)#MLB pic.twitter.com/BLylde39sP
— MLB Quality of Pitch (@qopbaseball) December 4, 2025
Monday in Peoria
The Padres (1-2) will host the Milwaukee Brewers (0-2) at the Peoria Sports Complex on Monday afternoon.
For the Padres, it’ll be southpaw JP Sears on the mound as Easton McGee will start for Milwaukee. Game time on Monday is at 12:10 PST/1:10 MST and will be broadcasted by Padres TV.
If you cannot tune in to the stream, it can be listened to on local radio, 97.3 The Fan.
Angel grew up a San Diego sports fan, following the Padres, SDSU athletics, San Diego FC, as well as the Chargers. He is currently a third year community college student, looking to transfer to SDSU to pursue a career in Journalism.
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