Padres non-roster invitees are facing tough competition as roster battle heats up

We are now three games into Padres 2025 spring training, and with a number of non-roster invitees vying for a spot on the major league roster, Padres fans should familiarize themselves with some of the names who could be in the squad.

General Manager AJ Preller seemed to be searching for diamonds in the rough this offseason, signing veteran after veteran in hopes of replacing some of the departed stars from 2024's roster. Spring training has provided some of those veterans to showcase their talents, and many are making the most of the opportunity.

Oscar Gonzalez

In nine at-bats so far this spring, 27-year-old Oscar Gonzalez has four hits and two RBI's. Signed to a minor league contract early in the offseason, Gonzalez last played in the majors in 2023, when he appeared in 54 games for the Cleveland Guardians. Primarily an outfielder, Gonzalez has found himself at both designated hitter and right field with San Diego, picking up two hits, one RBI, and one run scored in Saturday's rout of the Sacramento A's.

Having played 145 career games in the MLB, Gonzalez is the least experienced of the group of veterans Preller brought in this offseason, but he has put up some of the best numbers in the group. A career .269 hitter, San Diego will be looking for Gonzalez to return to the numbers he put up with Cleveland in 2022, with 107 hits in 91 games and a .788 OPS.

Yuli Gurriel

The oldest of the Padres veteran signings, Gurriel is 1-2 so far this spring, having only appeared in one game after his very recent acquisition. Gurriel started off his Padres career on a high note, blasting a home run off Padres number two starter Michael King in just his second day of practice with the team. Also appearing in Saturday's game against Sacramento, Gurriel would line a single to center in the second inning, and score off a Luis Arraez single later in the inning.

Gurriel's addition is interesting for a number of reasons. One, he is nearing the very end of his playing career, having already spent 25 years playing professional baseball. Two, he can play both first base and designated hitter, two positions that San Diego is still looking to iron out before opening day. Three, Gurriel has a past with Padres pitcher Yu Darvish, having made a racist and insensitive comment towards the Japanese pitcher when the two faced off during the 2017 World Series. Darvish has already expressed he is fine with the signing, and Gurriel has expressed he is appreciative to be playing with Darvish.

Gavin Sheets

Gavin Sheets has arguably been the most impressive of the new additions, going 2-for-2 in the Padres first spring training game of the year, notching two doubles, one RBI, and one run scored. A strange decision to let Sheets walk by the Chicago White Sox having played 139 games for them in 2024, the 28-year-old first baseman and outfielder is showing that he deserves a spot on the roster.

A quiet game against the Dodgers on Sunday with two groundouts and one strikeout saw Sheets brought out of the game in the sixth, but Manager Mike Shildt has expressed his admiration for his recent performances. At this point, Sheets looks to be a much needed commodity for San Diego heading into 2025.