Padres notes: A 'coin-flip day' for Manny Machado, 'filthy' Drew Thorpe

The lone split-squad motion on the Padres’ Cactus League schedule made for a busy Friday.

Supervisor Mike Shildt made the drive to Maryvale to observe most of the youthful gamers in camp — Jairo Iriarte, Drew Thorpe, Jackson Merrill and Jakob Marsee — play the Brewers. Brian Esposito, the catching coach and recreation technique assistant, served because the performing supervisor for a extra skilled bunch that remained on the Peoria Sports activities Complicated to face the Angels.

Manny Machado didn’t make the drive to Maryvale or the stroll from the clubhouse to Peoria Stadium.

However don’t fret over a setback.

Friday was a workday, Shildt stated, as Machado makes his method again from offseason elbow surgical procedure.

“Simply an additional day,” Shildt stated. “It’s a part of his development. At the moment was a bit little bit of a coin-flip day, and it’s only a day the place he and we felt prefer it’s only a matter of getting extra work in. You may speak concerning the video games. That’s nice. They’re vital. Don’t get me mistaken. However him having the ability to get his at-bats and get well and get his swings within the recreation and be capable to try this with extra quantity proper now has extra significance than the 2 or three at-bats he’ll get in a recreation.”

Machado has appeared in three Cactus League video games because the designated hitter, the final on Tuesday. He’s 1-for-6 with a double, a stroll and two strikeouts.

Machado has but to play third base in a recreation however is making all of the throws he does in a traditional spring coaching.

The Padres haven’t but stated when Machado will play third base in a recreation.

‘Bugs bunny’

Thorpe’s change-up grades out as his greatest pitch, a low-80s mph providing that MLB Pipeline’s scouting reviews has labeled as double-plus at occasions.

Shildt was actually impressed with it after the 23-year-old struck out 4 over two scoreless innings within the Padres’ 4-3 loss on the Brewers’ advanced. Thorpe allowed only a two-out single after starting his outing, within the third inning, with swinging punchouts of Blake Perkins and Garrett Mitchell.

Christian Yelich bounced out to finish that inning and Thorpe struck out Rhys Hoskins and Willy Adames to begin a 1-2-3 fourth.

“Wow, what a superb pitch,” Shildt stated of Thorpe’s change-up. “Gosh darn. Tremendous Bugs Bunny. … Actually filthy pitch.”

Notable

• RHP Joe Musgrove will pitch in a back-field recreation on Saturday whereas RHP Michael King makes the beginning in opposition to the Giants in Scottsdale. Musgrove has allowed eight runs on 5 hits and two walks in 1 2/3 innings via his first two Cactus League begins. RHP Yu Darvish’s begin on Sunday, his second of the spring, may additionally come on a again discipline.
• LHP Yuki Matsui (again) performed mild catch and did jogging/operating drills Friday morning in Peoria. Shildt didn’t have an replace on his standing whereas talking with reporters after the sport in Maryvale.
• LHP Jay Groome, who’s out of choices, has been slowed since his proper quad cramped up early in camp. He threw a bullpen on Thursday however has not but appeared in a Cactus League recreation.