How these 3 veteran position players are fitting in during Padres spring training

We are now a few weeks into the 2025 spring training season and Padres fans have been able to get to know some of the newer faces at camp. Three position players, all veterans, have gotten a few games under their belt with the Friars this year, with different roles expected from them. Jason Heyward will likely get more playing time than Connor Joe and Gavin Sheets, but they are all new to the organization. How have they each fared so far in the spring?

Jason Heyward

On a one-year deal, Heyward is no stranger to hitting poorly in spring training. He's a career .236 hitter in 304 games, dating all the way back to 2008. The 35-year-old outfielder is 1-for-12 with San Diego through seven games alongside two runs scored.

Despite his struggles, the 15-year veteran is not necessarily here to contribute a ton on offense. He batted .211 in 2024 between the Dodgers and the Astros, so ideally, the Padres can rely on Heyward's defensive prowess to keep him in the lineup. That is, at least until Tirso Ornelas is ready to be promoted. Even if Heyward doesn't do well defensively, either, his main role that Padres fans can bank on is being a leader, especially towards younger outfielders.

Connor Joe

Joe, also on a one-year deal, can expect to see time in left field and at first base. He has shown inconsistency at the plate throughout his major league career, and he sports a .728 OPS through five seasons. His best numbers, however, come in April (.853 OPS) and in May (.250 average), so if Ornelas needs more time in the minors to develop, the Padres can hopefully use Joe as cushion in the lineup until the middle of the season.

This spring, Joe is batting .214 (3-for-14), but has drawn four walks in eight games. His OBP sits at .450, which can hopefully translate into production in the regular season.

Gavin Sheets

Non-tendered by the White Sox, Sheets is with the Padres on a minor league deal. He can play first base and right field, and with his 6-foot-5, 235-pound frame, maybe he can bolster the Friars' power. He surprisingly has never hit more than 15 home runs in a season, but the 28-year-old has flexed his strength already this spring.

Down 0-2 in the count, Sheets turned on an inside pitch to mash his first homer of the spring on March 8.

Through 11 spring games, Sheets is hitting .154 (4-for-26), but three of those four hits have gone for extras bases. He can only hit right-handed pitching, so expect him to be a platoon option if he gets any major playing time.

One other veteran bat to keep an eye out for is Jose Iglesias, who recently signed with San Diego. He's just getting acclimated to the new year, and is 0-for-1 with a strikeout entering Sunday.