Padres’ newest bat is already making the 2026 plan look smarter

About two weeks before spring training, the Padres looked like a dead man walking when it came to who was playing first base. They had no one available, with both their options signing with other teams.

In a last-ditch effort, the Padres brought in first base/designated hitter Miguel Andujar to compete for an opening day roster spot in 2026.

To many’s surprise, Andujar hasn’t played too badly in spring training games. At the moment, he is 2-for-7 with a home run and a stolen base. Through those games, the journeyman seems like the front-runner to be the team’s opening day first baseman.

Miguel Andújar is quietly validating a Padres plan that felt shaky on paper

Andujar is also incredibly versatile, being able to play both infield and outfield while also proving to be a solid hitter.

Andujar, 30, is competing against a pair of non-roster invites in Nick Castellanos and Ty France. Andujar has the upper hand on them, as he is guaranteed $4 million in 2026.

Castellanos was released by the Philadelphia Phillies after the team failed to find a trade destination for the disgruntled outfielder, who was in the final year of the five-year, $100 million contract. He has been taking reps at first base in the Padres’ training camp.

France, on the other hand, spent time with the Minnesota Twins and World Series runner-up Toronto Blue Jays. It is more likely than not that he starts in Triple-A at the beginning of the season.

Andujar served as a solid bat for both the Athletics and Cincinnati Reds, batting .318 across both teams with an .822 OPS. He is already showing off the power in his new threads, and could be a bright spot on a roster that is seeing a bit of change compared to 2025.

The favorite for first base in 2026 is off to a hot start, and he could be the x-factor this season for a team that desperately needs one.