2023 San Diego Padres midseason report cards with letter grades: Position players

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The four-day All-Star break is over and the wild dash for the playoff in the second half begins. The San Diego Padres are sitting at 43-47 and six games out of the final National League Wild Card spot, needing to leap at least three teams. That seems like the best path for the Friars to October baseball as they face an 8.5-game deficit in NL West.

As disappointing as the first half was, it could have been worse, and because of a strong final week where they swept the Los Angeles Angels and took two out of three against the New York Mets to regain some hope. The Padres had some good and bad performances in the first half and, before the second half kicks off with a four-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies, here are some mid-season grades for the Friars position players. As a note, to qualify for a grade, they have to have had at least 60 at-bats in the first half.

2023 San Diego Padres midseason grades: Catchers and DHs

Gary Sanchez - A-

What an addition in late May Gary Sanchez has been to the Padres. Offensively, he has added some pop down in the order for manager Bob Melvin. He has seven home runs and 20 RBI in just 36 games. However, just as much as his addition has been offensively, it's been bigger behind the plate. He is a big reason why Blake Snell finished the first half strong, allowing just four runs in his last nine starts. Who knew when the seaosn began Sanchez would be in this position right now?

Austin Nola - D

Where do we begin with Austin Nola? Sanchez has taken his spot behind the plate and in large part of Nola's lack of offense. He is slashing .143/.260/.190 with one home run and eight RBI. His production is down and the 33-year-old might be looking at his final chance with San Diego. GM A.J. Preller might be in the market for a bakcup catcher at the trade deadline.

Nelson Cruz - D-

Taking a chance on Nelson Cruz over the offseason to bring some pop from the DH spot was a good idea, but it just never worked out and the Padres DFA'd him earlier in the month in a move they had to make. He struck out 46 times, never looked comfortable at the plate, and appeared to be guessing on pitches toward the end of his tenure with the Friars. Give Preller credit for letting him go and it means that along with a backup catcher, he could also be looking for a right-handed bat at the deadline.

Matt Carpenter - C+

Last season Matt Carpenter had a good season with the New York Yankees before an injury cut it short. San Diego signing over the winter to a two-year, $12 million contract was anohter move made to bring some pop to the lineup from the left side. He has been more productive than Cruz with four home runs and 27 RBI, but he carries the worst WAR on the team with a -0.5. His contract is one where the Padres will cut ties like Cruz, but getting him on track in the second half will be a key for Melvin.

Arizona Diamondbacks v San Diego Padres / Denis Poroy/GettyImages

2203 San Diego Padres midseason grades: Outfielders

Juan Soto - B

As part of some position changes that the Padres went through this season, Juan Soto slid over the left field from right and he has not been affected by the move. He has 15 home runs, and 47 RBI while slashing .265/.419/.479, which earned a spot on the National League All-Star team in Seattle. He is the only player to play in all 90 games in the first half and they will need more of the same in the second half. The trade rumors should be just that, rumors. It would be silly for Preller to trade him, especially if they get off to a good start this weekend.

Trent Grisham - B-

It has not been the season that Trent Grisham thought he was going to have. He's hitting just .209 and has struck out a team-high 92 times in 86 games. He started out the season hot at the plate with three home runs in the first two weeks and he closed the first half with eight. He is in his third full season with the Padres and his defense has been good as it has during his time in Southern California. They will need more from him offensively in the second half.

Fernando Tatis, Jr. - A

Last August, Fernando Tatis, Jr. was hit with an 80-game suspension after testing positive for a banned substance. The Friars' run to the NLCS helped cut down the number of games he would miss this season and he returned in mid-April against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Since his return, he has been their best player with a team-high 16 home runs in 70 games and 44 RBI. He leads them with a .288 average and hits with 85. Even more impressive has been his defense in making the switch from shortstop to right field. He was an All-Star game snub, but the Padres and their fans know how good he has been and what he means to them in the second half.

San Diego Padres v New York Mets / Elsa/GettyImages

2023 San Diego Padres midseason grades: Infielders

Jake Cronenworth - C+

If there was one player who was affected by the position shuffling, it was Jake Cronenworth. Moving to first from second, he started the season slow offensively, but got better toward the end of the first half. He finished the first half slashing .217/.318/.361 with eight home runs and 33 RBI. He's currently not on pace to equal his home run and RBI totals from last season, but his defense has been good at first. His bat is going to be key in the second half if they are going to make a charge for a playoff berth.

Ha-Seong Kim - B+

After a good first half, Ha-Seong Kim is on pace for a career season. The 27-year-old second baseman has 10 home runs, one shy of his 11 from last season, and 31 RBI while slashing .258/.349/.411. His defense has been good and his .760 OPS is fourth on the team. Keeping him healthy in the second half will be key for San Diego.

Xander Bogaerts - A-

Preller's big offseason catch was shortstop Xander Bogaerts. Signed to an 11-year, $280 million deal after spending the first 10 years of his career with the Boston Red Sox, Bogaerts got off to a strong start with the Padres, cooled off, and then got hot before the break. He's slashing .253/.339/.392 with 10 home runs and 35 RBI and his defense has been good as well. He was a very good second-half player with Boston and will need to be again this season for the Friars.

Manny Machado - A

Out of all the players that closed out the first half on a roll, Manny Machado was the hottest position player behind Snell on the mound. He missed a month after fracturing his hand, but in July, the veteran third baseman turned it on at the plate. He's slashing .406/.472/1.000 with six home runs and 16 RBI in just eight games this month. Overall, he's slashing .261/.307/.458 with 15 home runs and a team-high 49 RBI. He had two home runs in the final game before the break against the Mets off of Max Scherzer and they will need his bat to stay hot out of the break.

If the Padres are going to make a move in the second half and get a postseason berth, they will need some of these grades to improve, but also get what they have some of their top players. They have put themselves in the position they are in and they have to dig their way out of it.

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