Padres 2024 Opening Day roster projection 1.0: Top prospect solves outfield shortage

The San Diego Padres got their first taste of Cactus League play this week with a 14-1 thrashing at the hands of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Things couldn't have gone much worse for new manager Mike Shildt and the Juan Soto-less Friars, but these exhibition contests don't count toward the 162 games the Padres will play in 2024.

Shildt may have given Pads fans some idea of how the Friars' skipper is planning to fill out his lineup card on Opening Day, but spring training provides managers and front office executives plenty of opportunities to see what's working and what's not ahead of the upcoming season.

The Padres have more questions than answers with Soto and Trent Grisham off to the Bronx, half their rotation from 2023 pitching for other clubs, and only three outfielders on the 40-man roster. What might the Padres 2024 Opening Day roster look like when San Diego heads off to Korea next month for the Seoul Series?

Padres 2024 Opening Day roster projection 1.0: Top prospect solves outfield shortage

Padres Opening Day infield (9)

• Ha-Seong Kim
• Xander Bogaerts
• Jake Cronenworth
• Eguy Rosario
• Kyle Higashioka
• Manny Machado
• Luis Campusano
• Matthew Batten
• Graham Pauley

The everyday spots in the Padres infield should not be up for debate. Kim and Bogaerts will be the Friars double-play combo in 2024. Bogaerts will find a new home at the keystone after Mike Shildt made the switch earlier this spring.

If Manny Machado is healthy following offseason surgery, he'll obviously take his rightful place at third base. If not, then the Padres will be shuffling players like Matthew Batten and Eguy Rosario at the hot corner. Even if Machado is healthy, both Batten and Rosario will probably leave Peoria with a ticket for San Diego.

Look for Luis Campusano to get the lion's share of starts behind home plate this season, but don't discount the presence of Kyle Higashioka on the Friars' roster either. The longtime New York Yankees backstop should bring a calming effect to a young Padres pitching staff.

Graham Pauley, after a stint in the Arizona Fall League, is one of the more interesting players present at Padres camp this spring. If given enough opportunities in Cactus League play, Pauley will have a legitimate chance to land on the Padres Opening Day roster. The question, however, is where he fits defensively. But if Pauley's bat plays, Shildt will find a place for his glove.

Padres Opening Day outfield (4)

• Fernando Tatis Jr.
• Jose Azocar
• Jackson Merrill
• Jurickson Profar

The Padres addressed the void in their outfield, sort of, with the addition of Jurickson Profar. But Profar should not be seen as an everyday player, especially given the number of talented prospects currently in the San Diego farm system. And that's where Jackson Merrill comes in.

The Padres sent up a signal on Thursday when Merrill debuted in left field for the Friars' Cactus League opener. Though a natural shortstop, Merrill will be given every chance to win the starting job in left field. He looked good during Thursday's exhibition.

Jose Azocar is an underwhelming name to occupy the middle of the San Diego outfield. But at the moment, the 27-year-old is the best the Padres have to offer. Non-roster invitees like Oscar Mercado and Cal Mitchell will try to displace Azocar, but he has the inside track at the moment.

Finally, every single member of the Friar faithful knows who'll be lining up in right field for the Pads on Opening Day. Showing that he can more than hold his own in the outfield after winning a Gold Glove in 2023, Ferando Tatis Jr. will be patrolling those pastures at Petco Park once again when the 2024 season begins. Padres fans will want to see that same level of defense, but better production from Tatis' bat in 2024.

Padres Opening Day starting rotation (5)

• Joe Musgrove
• Michael King
• Yu Darvish
• Pedro Avila
• Randy Vasquez

Joe Musgrove didn't instill much confidence in the Padres fanbase after his brief performance on Thursday against the Dodgers. Less than one inning of work, four earned runs, and no outs recorded is not a way to make friends and influence people. However, Musgrove had a long layoff after an injury-plagued 2023 season, and the hope is that Java Joe will return to form by Opening Day.

Yu Darvish will likely follow Musgrove in the Padres rotation, and newcomer Michael King will be looked to as the Friars' No. 3 starter. One of the key pieces in the Juan Soto deal with the Yankees, King will be looking to prove that he's ready to take the next step in his quest to become a full-time starter.

The battle for the final two spots in the San Diego rotation will be an interesting one to follow this spring, and there's arguably four or five starters who can make a case to be part of the Opening Day roster.

Pedro Avila and Randy Vasquez may have an advantage at the moment, but Jhony Brito has a live arm and will be given a chance to make a run at the active roster as well. Matt Waldron could certainly sneak onto the Opening Day roster, and don't sleep on Jairo Iriarte showcasing his talents this spring.

Jay Groome will be a name to watch as the lone left-handed starter on the Padres 40-man roster. The southpaw is also out of minor league options. San Diego could also surprise everyone and sign a free agent starter, like Michael Lorenzen, before the 2024 season begins.