Padres: Jake Cronenworth Could Benefit Most from Expanded Rosters

We take a look at what San Diego Padres player could benefit the most during the 2020 season with rosters expanding to 30 players.

As we all know, if there is going to be San Diego Padres baseball in 2020 then rosters are set to be expanded to 30 players.

That gives the Padres and a lot of other teams plenty of room to maneuver and keep guys fresh.

And it’s been a couple of days since I wrote an article about my love for Jake Cronenworth, so I thought this would be an opportunity to fix that.

As we were preparing for the start of the 2020 season in spring training, Cronenwroth was someone who was on the fence to make the team.

Because the Padres went out and got Brian Dozier, he wasn’t likely going to make the 25-man roster unless San Diego actually cut Jurickson Profar (which wasn’t likely to happen after they traded for him this past offseason).

And the Padres already have a couple of proven utility guys in Greg Garcia and Ty France.

But if you’ve read my articles since the Padres traded for Cronenworth, then you know how highly I think of him.

And it’s not like he wasn’t deserving a spot at the time in spring training as he was hitting .320 with 3 walks and 4 strikeouts in 25 at-bats.

This is someone who has always hit the ball well in the minors, including a .324 average in Triple-A last year.

He doesn’t give you a ton of power, but he’ll probably hit between 10-20 home runs, which you’ll take from your second baseman as long as he’s hitting .280-.300.

Profar and Dozier were always going to get the first crack at second base, but if neither of them have much success — and I’m not optimistic they will — then I think Cronenworth should be next in line.

And with rosters being expanded to 30, that gives the Padres the perfect chance to try and ease Cronenwroth in.

As a left-handed hitter, they can insert Cronenworth into the starting lineup against righties, which you face the majority of the time.

And his versatility allows you to play him all over the infield to give guys days off. Or if there are coming to be some double-headers we could see Cronenworth get some starts at short.

If there’s not going to be a Minor League season this year, and it looks like there won’t be, then putting Cronenworth on the 30-man roster and seeing what he can do is the best plan for him and the team.