Wednesday, September 24

Happy Opening Day. It's (finally) baseball season.

The Padres host the Braves this afternoon. But who am I kidding?! If you're reading this, you already knew that.

In the build-up to first pitch, here are nine Opening Day thoughts.

1. The Padres say their continuity is key. They started slowly in 2024, then turned in the best second half of any team, finishing the year 43-19 after starting 50-50. A common theme from workout day on Wednesday was how deeply the Padres believe the second half version of themselves was the true version of themselves -- and the version they expect from the start in 2025.

2. It's not always that simple, of course. The roster has undergone numerous changes since the end of the 2024 season -- including a handful of meaningful subtractions. They'll get reacquainted with one of those subtractions instantly. It's entirely possible that Jurickson Profar will take the first at-bat of the 2025 season at Petco Park -- for the Atlanta Braves.

3. I still think there's plenty of truth to that sentiment. Last year’s turnover was far more drastic than this year's. Last year saw a managerial change, the Juan Soto trade, and a far greater number of new faces in key roles. Said manager Mike Shildt on Wednesday: "Sustained success is what we -- this organization and I -- are after. It's very important to me to be able to do that. Having the experience last year and the guys coming into camp having familiarity with it -- without taking anything for granted -- it allows you to build on that."

4. By the time you read this, the Padres will probably have finalized their roster, but for all intents and purposes, it's already set. Outfielder Brandon Lockridge nabbed the final bench place, with Kyle Hart and Randy Vásquez rounding out the rotation. A number of those decisions came down to the final day or two of camp in Peoria, Ariz. For Lockridge, it's not merely his first time on an Opening Day roster -- this was his first time even in a big league camp. He won a bench spot with his spring performance. And facing Braves left-hander Chris Sale, he might even get the Opening Day start over the lefty-hitting Jason Heyward.

5. Shildt and Co. had some tough conversations this week, making numerous roster cuts to trim the roster to 26. The opposite of that? Shildt got to inform players like Lockridge that they'd be making the team for Opening Day. "There's not many things better than that," Shildt said. "You think about the sacrifices that have taken place for that player and their family, from a very, very early age, to get to the highest point in your profession."

6. I spoke with Jackson Merrill recently for a story on the anniversary of his debut, and the first thing he told me was: "It's crazy what a difference a year makes." Before Wednesday's workout, Merrill spoke with media and was asked how this year felt different from Opening Day as a rookie a season ago. "Opening Day last year was in a different country," Merrill said, and he wasn’t speaking metaphorically, even though he very well could have been. There are plenty of Padres I am excited to watch in 2025. But none more than Merrill, who insists he can still get better, even after turning in the best rookie season in Padres history.

7. Players to win four consecutive batting titles: Honus Wagner (1906-09), Rogers Hornsby (1920-25), Rod Carew (1972-75), Wade Boggs (1985-88) and Tony Gwynn (1994-97). I suspect it won’t take long for Luis Arraez to emerge as a clear contender for another batting title. And what a story that would be -- Arraez looking to become the first player to win four straight batting crowns since Gywnn, and doing so in San Diego.

8. Michael King vs. Chris Sale is the matchup we didn’t get in Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series because Sale was dealing with a back issue. That’s a heck of an Opening Day matchup. In fact, it’s the only Opening Day matchup featuring two starters who finished top seven in Cy Young Award voting last season.

9. Opening Day will not be the same without Bryce Miller. A longtime sports columnist for the San Diego Union-Tribune, Miller passed away last week at the age of 56. Every day Bryce was at the ballpark was a good day. I’d urge you to read Ryan Finley’s tribute to Bryce in the U-T. You may have seen other tributes in the past few days. The kind words are all true. Bryce was a fantastic writer -- funny, thoughtful, nuanced and averse to hot-takery. He was an even better guy -- friendly, warm, funny and genuine. Bryce will be deeply, deeply missed in the Petco Park press box.

Who holds the Padres record for most strikeouts by a pitcher on Opening Day?

A. Clay Kirby

B. Jake Peavy

C. Gaylord Perry

D. Dick Selma

• The Padres finalized the position-player half of their roster with a balanced bench.

• Hart and Vásquez fill out the rotation, winning a tight competition that saw Stephen Kolek optioned to Triple-A El Paso.

• Here’s what you need to know ahead of today’s opener against the Braves.

A reminder: PADRES.TV will return for the 2025 season, allowing fans to stream regular-season games in the San Diego area without blackouts. (That offer -- available now for $99.99 -- is only for fans in the Padres’ home TV territory and a separate service from the MLB.TV out-of-market package.) 

Whether you’ll be at the ballpark today -- or a later date this season -- there are a few upgrades worth checking out at Petco Park.

Those upgrades, which were unveiled Wednesday, include an impressive, mulit-million-dollar renovation of the Western Metal Supply Co. Building. The façade remains the same, but the rooftop, the Budweiser Loft and the New Era team store were all renovated.

Additionally, the ballpark features numerous new concessions and hospitality offerings. Tickets for games on the Padres’ season-opening homestand remain available here.

D. Starting the first game in franchise history in 1969, Selma struck out 12 Astros on Opening Day.

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