Former All-Star outfielder points out stunning fact about Padres' Opening Day lineup
Most baseball fans know that the best all-around athletes on the diamond typically line up at shortstop.
Just look at Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Mookie Betts, who's transitioning to the position this season.
Retired All-Star and Gold Glove outfielder Adam Jones pointed out a stunning fact about the San Diego Padres' Opening Day lineup for Wednesday's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, though, noting that eight of their nine fielders have previously played shortstop.
As Jones noted, the only non-shortstop in San Diego's starting nine on Wednesday in South Korea was catcher Luis Campusano. The 25-year-old's appearance in the opener was only his 62nd career-regular season game in the field – all of which have come behind the plate.
The only two newcomers to the Padres lineup were eighth-year pro Tyler Wade and rookie Jackson Merrill.
Entering this season, Wade had 328 career regular-season games in a lineup at a defensive position, playing everywhere but pitcher, first base and catcher. The 29-year-old's 102 games at shortstop are second-most only to his 140 contests at second base.
Merrill made his big-league debut in center field and is expected to primarily stay there this season, but the 2021 first-round draft pick spent much of his time in the minors over the last three years at shortstop.
Jake Cronenworth, Ha-Seong Kim, Xander Bogaerts and Manny Machado made up the Friars' starting infield in 2023, at first base, second base, shortstop and third base, respectively.
A two-time All-Star, Cronenworth made 61 appearances at short in his first four seasons from 2020-23, while Machado (a two-time Gold Glove Award winner) made 236 appearances at the position, all from 2015-19.
For his part, Bogaerts is a four-time All-Star and has played the most shortstop of anyone on the roster, occupying the No. 6 spot on the scorecard 1,338 times. He's shifting over to second base for the first time in his career in 2024, so Kim (a 2023 Gold Glove winner) can man shortstop.
Wednesday was the South Korean's 187th time at the position in 377 career defensive appearances.
Fernando Tatis Jr. was San Diego's primary shortstop to start his MLB career from 2019-21, playing the position 242 times before shifting to right field with the addition of Bogaerts last offseason. He won a Gold Glove in his first season in the outfield in 2023.
Rounding out the Opening Day lineup, Jurickson Profar has played all over the field since making his debut in 2012, including 104 games at shortstop.
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