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3 players Padres fans can’t trust heading into the 2022 season

By Gabrielle Starr |
Sep 3, 2021; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres first baseman Eric Hosmer (left) tosses his helmet after striking out to end the seventh inning against the Houston Astros at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 3, 2021; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres first baseman Eric Hosmer (left) tosses his helmet after striking out to end the seventh inning against the Houston Astros at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
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Can fans trust the San Diego Padres roster in 2022?

The San Diego Padres didn’t really make any splashes in free agency this spring, claiming that their roster was pretty much good to go.

But fans have their doubts, and rightfully so. There are several pitchers returning from injury, and a few more who just need bounce-back seasons. Add in Fernando Tatis Jr.’s injury, and the roster looks far from a sure thing.

Here are three players Padres fans should be wary of heading into the regular season…

Eric Hosmer

This one’s pretty obvious, as Hosmer has never really lived up to his blockbuster contract. The Padres gave him an 8-year, $144M deal ahead of the 2018 season, the richest signing in franchise history at the time. Four seasons in, his batting average is twenty points lower than it was with the Royals, and he’s only hit 20+ homers once, compared to back-to-back 25-homer seasons before he left Kansas City.

Hosmer is far from the worst hitter in the game, but he’s certainly not matching his hefty pricetag. The Padres have been “aggressively” trying to trade him, to no avail.

Awards don’t mean everything, but it’s worth pointing out that Hosmer won four Gold Gloves and a Silver Slugger with the Royals, but hasn’t won anything since.

Sep 17, 2021; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; San Diego Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. (23) walks off the field after the third inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2021; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; San Diego Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. (23) walks off the field after the third inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /

Fernando Tatis Jr.

It hurts to say, but with Fernando Tatis Jr. sustaining a fracture in his arm and needing surgery, the Padres can’t count on him for at least the first two months of the season. His timetable for return is approximately three months, and he had surgery earlier in mid-March.

For the second year in a row, Tatis won’t be able to play a full season due to injury. However, when he only played 130 games in 2021, he still led the National League with 42 home runs.

Even when he does come back, it might take some time for him to get into fighting form, so just manage expectations.

PHOENIX, ARIZONA – AUGUST 31: Blake Snell #4 of the San Diego Padres delivers a seventh inning pitch against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on August 31, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – AUGUST 31: Blake Snell #4 of the San Diego Padres delivers a seventh inning pitch against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on August 31, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /

Blake Snell

Blake Snell needs a bounce-back season in 2022, but Padres fans shouldn’t expect Cy Young numbers from him. His 2018 season, when he posted a 1.89 ERA over 31 starts for the Rays, was a departure, not his norm.

In every other season of his career, Snell has an ERA of 3.24 or higher, and his Cy Young season was the only one in which he made more than 27 starts.

As with Tatis, the idea here is to manage expectations. Snell has some filthy stuff on the mound, but he hasn’t even made his first Cactus League start yet. He threw live BP earlier this week, but is a bit behind the rest of the rotation.

Some good news is that Snell says his changeup is “back” after being in “timeout” last season because it wasn’t executing correctly.

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