Viva La France!
In August 2020, Padres President of Baseball Operations A.J. Preller went on to make a flurry of moves to put San Diego in position to make their first postseason run for the first time in 14 years. After the wheeling and dealing was done, utility-man Ty France had his bags packed and was heading to the Seattle Mariners from the Padres in what was a seven player trade that saw catcher Austin Nola and two relievers come back to America's Finest City.
After a four-year stint with the Mariners and one in each of Cincinnati, Minnesota, and Toronto, the San Diego State product is back where his professional career began. The Padres reunited with France on a one-year, minor league contract in mid-February, adding to what at the time was a thin bench/platoon chart.
So far in Cactus League play, the All-Star, who is also coming off a Gold Glove season at first base, is impressing at Padres camp. Most recently, he singled in San Diego's lone run in Sunday's 9-1 loss to the San Francisco Giants.
In 14 at-bats, France is slashing .357/.438/.357 with three RBIs. It's unclear how much playing time he'd receive if he were to make the Padres Opening Day roster, but it might be safe to assume a platoon roll at first base would be in order. As constructed, left-handed slugger Gavin Sheets is penciled in as the Friars' every day first baseman.
A step back for Bryan Hoeing
After missing the majority of the 2025 season due to a strained right shoulder, reliever Bryan Hoeing's status is now uncertain heading into the brunt of Cactus League play. The 29-year-old was removed from a live bullpen session on Sunday morning, citing discomfort in his throwing elbow.
Padres pitching coach Ruben Niebla did share some optimism after the fact, telling reporters, "We don't think it's as serious (as it could be), but we have to be conscious and look at it and be able to make the right assessments."
The Padres acquired Hoeing along with left-handed closer Tanner Scott from the Miami Marlins during the 2024 trade deadline. He went on to be a solid long-man option out of the bullpen for San Diego that season, pitching to a 1.52 ERA with 18 strikeouts, a 0.80 WHIP, and .173 BAA in 23 2/3 innings pitched.
