MLB PLAYER NEWS

Quentin among many Padres working out at first

The Sports Xchange

March 01, 2015 at 4:22 pm.

"Carlos is exploring options," said Black. "It's not uncommon for players to move around and play more positions and explore other things. I think Carlos is enjoying it. He's a sharp guy. He's working hard at it." Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Carlos Quentin might be taking ground balls at first for the San Diego Padres.

But don’t jump to the conclusion that the Padres see Quentin as a first baseman-outfielder on the Opening Day roster.

“Carlos is still an outfielder,” Padres manager Bud Black said Sunday when asked about Quentin.

“Carlos is exploring options,” continued Black. “It’s not uncommon for players to move around and play more positions and explore other things. I think Carlos is enjoying it. He’s a sharp guy. He’s working hard at it.”

But at one time this first week of spring training, there were 10 players fielding grounders at first during one practice session.

Yonder Alonso, who turns 28 on April 8, still has the inside track as the Padres regular first baseman, although a series of injuries to his right hand, wrist and forearm has limited Alonso to 181 games over the past two seasons.

“I’m 100 percent now,” said Alonso, who had off-season surgery to repair the wrist.

The “new” Padres are also working their way to Alonso’s strengths. The Padres added outfielders Matt Kemp, Justin Upton and Wil Myers for power. Alonso is more of a gap-power hitter. In his last healthy season, Alonso hit .273 with a .348 on-base percentage with 39 doubles.

Plus, Alonso is a left-handed hitter. He would be no more than one of two left-handed hitters in the Padres lineup.

But Alonso’s injury history the past two years has the Padres looking at first basemen.

In addition to Alonso and Quentin, others in the Padres camp who have already fielded grounders at first include Tommy Medica, Alex Dickerson, Jake Goebbert, Cody Decker, Myers, Brett Wallace, Will Middlebrooks and Yangervis Solarte. And they will also be looking at Clint Barmes at first.

Were Quentin able to play first, it would not only raise his chances of sticking with the Padres, it might improve the possibility of moving Quentin to an American League team looking for a right-handed-hitting designated hitter.

ALL  |  NFL  |  College Football  |  MLB  |  NBA