San Diego Padres: Let’s Talk About The Friars’ Outfield

As Spring Training slugs along, let’s take a look at possible defensive alignments we’ll see in the San Diego Padres’ outfield this season.

The state of the San Diego Padres’ outfield has been thrown into a bit of a tizzy over the last month or so.

With Wil Myers now cemented into the right-field position and Manuel Margot all but guaranteed the Opening Day nod in center, the situation in left-field is all that’s left to figure out. Right?

Well, not exactly. Jose Pirela continues to show his worth to this Friars squad. Nearly everything manager Andy Green asks of the 29-year-old Venezuelan, he does and does very well.

Whether he’s playing in left or at second or even pinch-hitting, Pirela has become a beast and this team will benefit, greatly, from him being around and in the lineup every day, wherever that may be.

San Diego Padres have a lot of decisions to make

So let’s pencil him in for a spot in left. Next up is Hunter Renfroe. Renfroe was originally slated to appear in left, but when the Padres signed Eric Hosmer, the 26-year-old from Crystal Springs, MS was left in a limbo of sorts.

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When a ballplayer, or anyone for that matter, is left in a spot that’s only to a certain degree within his control, that player has to do the only thing he knows how to do best; hit.

Whether or not Renfroe is a below, above, or just average outfielder, his bat is just too powerful of a weapon to let him sit around in Triple-A, waiting for an opportunity.

Can we all just take a second to appreciate Franchy Cordero?

So let’s take that pencil back out and write down Renfroe’s name next to Pirela’s. Who’s next? Ah, of course, The Mustard Man himself, Franchy Cordero.

This young man just continues to rake this spring. It’s gotten to the point that him being left off of the Opening Day roster would come as a shock to most of us.

Next: Padres Lefty Prospects Give Fans Hope

The San Diego Padres are left in quite the pickle. No matter who starts in left, or gets the most at-bats over the course of the season is inconsequential. All three of the above-mentioned Friars will surely contribute in one way or another this season to the Padres’ success.

As I’ve said in this forum in the past, having too many good players is always a great problem to have.