We're only two weeks into the season, but it's hard to stop yourself from looking ahead, especially if you're a San Diego Padres fan. Adam Engel, David Dahl, Joe Musgrove, Drew Pomeranz, Robert Suarez, and Adrian Morejon are all on the Injured List right now. And who can forget Fernando Tatis Jr. nearing his return?
Players who began the season on the Opening Day roster should be looking over their shoulders because the Padres are getting closer and closer to full strength. Once players do start to return, they'll have to replace players on the current roster.
Which three players who were fortunate enough to begin the season on the Padres Opening Day roster will not finish the year on it?
1. Rougned Odor will not finish the 2023 season on the San Diego Padres roster
The Padres signed Rougned Odor this past offseason to a minor league deal. The veteran won a job with the Padres but, with the way he's played combined with the fact that Tatis is less than one week away from finally returning, it feels like the writing is on the wall.
Odor has just two hits in his first 20 at-bats of the season. He's played some right field, but that spot will belong to Tatis when he returns.
Brandon Dixon might be the one to go down when Tatis returns, but when Engel and Dahl return, it's hard to see Odor lasting the entire season. He's looked awful at the plate and hasn't looked great offensively since 2019 when he clubbed 30 homers.
It's nice to see Odor provide a bit of versatility, but the Padres roster is loaded enough to the point where they won't have a spot for this veteran when they're healthy.