San Diego Padres Power Past The Dodgers

It may have been just a spring training game, but the San Diego Padres defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers yesterday, 10-5. The win improves the Padres Cactus League record to 3-3.

Spring training or not, it’s always a good day when the San Diego Padres beat the Dodgers. The Padres racked up 10 hits and added five walks on Wednesday, continuing to show off their new and improved offense.

We caught another quick glimpse at the type of player Fernando Tatis, Jr will be down the road. At 19-years-old, with no major league experience, Tatis exhibited the confidence and demeanor of a major-league veteran. My personal favorite moment came as he questioned home-plate umpire Adrian Johnson’s ball/strike calls. It didn’t matter that he’s just 19, he let the umpire know exactly what was on his mind.

Tatis recorded two base-hits in a seven run inning sixth-inning for the Padres, but this defensive play was more impressive. With instincts and hops like he shows below, there should be minimal worry about his defense, regardless of whether it’s at shortstop or third base.

Austin Hedges is having a decent spring for the San Diego Padres.

Austin Hedges has played in three games this spring. In each game he’s done something that looks like this…

Hedges described the adjustments he made to Padres’ MLB.com beat reporter AJ Cassavell as such,

“When I got mistakes last year, I did damage, but I was chasing out of the zone,” Hedges said. “I’m obviously not chasing pitches on purpose. But I don’t think my body was in position to see the ball well enough. All I’ve been trying to do is get into a position where I can see the ball longer, slow the game down a little bit, hunt my pitch. Anything else, just disregard it.”

Obviously, opposing pitchers will adjust to Hedges and his new swing. However, it’s very promising to see these positive results early on.

Will Hedges break Mike Piazza‘s record for most home runs in a season by a Padres’ catcher? He fell just four short last season. I think that record falls, by a lot. Overreaction? It’s spring training, so of course it is, but I’m sticking to it.

Notes from around the San Diego Padres basepaths.

Don’t sleep on Christian Villanueva. Villanueva has no options remaining, meaning he has to make the team out of spring training. After six games, he’s 5-11 at the plate (.455 average) with one home run and three runs driven in.

He made his major league debut last season with the Padres, appearing in 12 games and hitting .344 (11-32). He chipped in four home runs and one double during his short stint at Petco Park.

Chase Headley has yet to make his spring training debut, still recovering from a hand injury suffered in practice. Moving Headley will be difficult with his hefty contract. Should the Padres eat his contract and ship him off to make room for Villanueva? San Diego isn’t done making moves and as we see spring training battles decided on, expect to see a flurry of moves.

Next: Who's Hot And Who's Not This Spring?

If Villanueva continues his hot spring training, Headley needs to be one of those moves. He’s not #HotTalentLava. Never has been, never will be.