Padres release complete travel roster for Seoul Series vs Dodgers

The San Diego Padres have left the states and their plane has touched down in South Korea. While the entire 40-man roster couldn't make the trip from Peoria, Arizona, the Padres' travel roster for the Seoul Series was released.

Unlike the other 28 Major League Baseball teams, the Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers will begin their regular season on March 20th instead of the 28th. Both the Padres and Dodgers are participants in the Seoul Series; a two-game series being held in Seoul, South Korea as part of the MLB World Tour.

Unlike most regular season games, the Padres roster for the Seoul Series is not limited to 26 players. A roster of 31 was able to make the trip overseas, and includes some names that will be making their major league debut.

Padres release complete travel roster for Seoul Series vs Dodgers

Jackson Merrill is on the roster. Whether the 20-year-old will be the Padres center fielder when San Diego takes the field for the first game of the Seoul Series is not yet known. The other outfielders joining Merrill are Jose Azocar, Jurickson Profar, and Fernando Tatis Jr.

Graham Pauley is also part of the traveling party. Xander Bogaerts, Ha-Seong Kim, and Jake Cronenworth will be occupying three of the four infield spots, but Manny Machado has not yet been cleared to play third base. Pauley could grab that spot, but it could go to one of Tyler Wade or Eguy Rosario as well.

Dylan Cease is on the Padres travel roster, but it's not yet known if he'll pitch during the Seoul Series. The Friars pulled off a blockbuster deal with the Chicago White Sox and Cease is now part of the Padres pitching staff. Yu Darvish is scheduled to start the first game of the season.

As for the bullpen, Korean native Woo-Suk Go made the trip back to his home country, along with fellow free agent signee Yuki Matsui. Michael King, who's expected to be part of the Padres starting rotation, could make an appearance out of the Friars bullpen during the two-day series.

Set your alarm clocks, Friar faithful. The Padres will open the 2024 season at 3:00 a.m. PT on Wednesday, March 20th.

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