San Diego Padres: 3 Friars making a big impact early on
By Nick Stevens
The San Diego Padres are off to a hot start and if these three players can remain consistent, the Friars could make a big run in 2020.
For the first time since 1997, the San Diego Padres are 4-1 to start a season. With a lineup loaded with explosive talents like Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr., and Chris Paddack, it’s not a surprise that the Friars are off to a hot start.
There are still holes on the roster, we can’t overlook that fact, and we’re talking about a sample size of a week here, but when there hasn’t been baseball in many months and with the threat of the season being taken away at any moment always looming, it means we get to allow ourselves to get really excited about small sample sizes.
The 2020 season is already about 10% of the way complete. A hot stretch will go a long way this year and for young players who the league is learning to adjust to, this season is a prime opportunity to have an even bigger impact.
A few young San Diego Padres players are taking advantage of that already, while a handful of veterans have opened some eyes through the first week of the season, leading to the inevitable question of “what if?”
After watching the first few games of the season, three players, in particular, have stood out, outside of the usual suspects like Tatis, Paddack, Machado, and Dinelson Lamet. Let’s start with a rookie who likely would not have been on the Opening Day roster if 2020 was a normal season.