Padres notes: Rougned Odor comes through, Brandon Dixon’s opportunity, Seth Lugo’s latest

late spring training, pleasant smell I struggled to learn how to play on right and left field. Since Fernando Tatis Jr. After coming back from his suspension, Odor has spent a lot of time just waiting this time.

“It’s hard,” said Odor. “I’ve never been in this situation before. But I spoke to my teammates. I have with (Nelson Cruz). He’s been in the league for a very long time. He helps me stay ready when they need me. This is the first time I’ve been in this situation and I’m just trying to do my best before the game to be ready when they need me.”

From second base, Odor was ready in Sunday’s first inning, fouling three pitches while bases were full to complete the count against the two-time Cy Young winner Corey Kluber. The seventh pitch was a curve ball through the center of the plate and Odor ripped it down the right field line, clearing the bases and opening a 4-0 lead.

Odor also doubled in a run in the sixth inning-off Nick PivettaThis was the first time he had at least two doubles and four RBIs in a single game in his career, which began in January 2011 when he signed with Rangers as a teenager AJ Preller was the senior director of player personnel at Rangers.

Odor hit at least 30 home runs in three of his seven seasons in Texas before playing 102 games for the Yankees in 2021 and 135 games for the Orioles last year.

After signing a minor league contract in March, San Diego had plans never to play The much.

And that takes getting used to.

But this new bankroll – Sunday marked only the 15th start this year for Odor, 29 – was never something he didn’t think he would figure out.

“The GM knows me,” Odor said after increasing his batting line to .175/.266/.298 in 24 games (64 plate appearances) on a two-hit day. “Manny (Machado) knows me. I played against him a lot. he knows who i am Everyone knows who I am. I’m just trying to do my best to help my team. That’s it. That’s what’s on my mind all the time.”

Dixon’s chance

After starting at first base on Friday and Saturday, Brandon Dixon sat against Kluber on Sunday. In old friendship with another left-hander on the mound on Tuesday in Washington MacKenzie Gore31-year-old Dixon expects to be back on the starting lineup at first base.

Aside from the look he received after the Padres secured a playoff berth in late September last year, Machado’s stay on the injury list represents Dixon’s best opportunity to secure a role in this squad.

Dixon knows he has to do it something with it.

The trick is not exaggerated to do anything at all, and that’s really a trick.

“If you can figure that out, I think there are a lot of people who would appreciate that answer,” Dixon said. “No, I think it’s just about staying in that moment and doing what you can in that moment. Whether it’s a man in third place, an out, or an innings leader, he’s doing what the game calls for in that situation.”

Dixon is 0-of-6 with a strikeout and a hit-by-pitch in this recent recall from Triple-A El Paso, where his batting average topped .689 last year in the Pacific Coast League — 13 homers in 25 games last Year and seven in his first 26 games this year – has the front office been curious about what he could add as a right-handed hitter at least off the bench?

Knowing Machado, he won’t be out for long. That means it’s now time for Dixon to prove he can carry some of his minor league success over to the majors.

“You see, the big leagues are about creating your opportunity,” Padres manager says Bob Melvin called. “You get some chances and you have to take them. … The next step is for him to get rep here and get some achievements. With Manny out he has an opportunity to get some games going.”

Lugo update

Seth Lugo started throwing on Friday but received a PRP injection in his right calf on Saturday to speed up recovery. He is expected to continue his treatment in Arizona during the upcoming road trip. While it’s too early to say if he’ll be on track to return from the 15-day injury list if eligible, Lugo isn’t inclined to fully dismiss this downtime as a potential bright spot on his return to action consider rotation.

The 33-year-old has already hit 41 2/3 innings this year, pitched 65 innings in the Mets bullpen last year and has not surpassed 100 in a season since 2018.

Could this break help him cross the finish line?

Sure, but…

“We talked about it a little bit,” Lugo said. “The doctor mentioned that. … I don’t see it that way. I want to pitch as often as I can.”