Padres right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. (23) center fielder Tyler Wade (14) and left fielder Oscar Gonzalez (39) celebrate after the Padres defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. David Dermer-Imagn Images

Padres Outfielder Leaves Team for Opportunity in Japan: Report

Originally posted on San Diego Padres on SI
By J.P. Hoornstra | Last updated May 19, 2025 4:40 PM ET

The San Diego Padres are down another outfielder.

Oscar Gonzalez, who's hit .220 in 61 major league games with San Diego this season, is on his way to Japan according to Dennis Lin of The Athletic on Twitter/X.

After trading Connor Joe last week, the Padres are parting with another left-field option. They placed Oscar Gonzalez on unconditional release waivers to allow him to pursue an opportunity with a Japanese team, sources said.
— Dennis Lin (@dennistlin) May 19, 2025

Lin reports that Gonzalez is being placed on unconditional release waivers. If and when he's officially moved on, the 27-year-old will be the second outfielder this month to leave the organization.

The Padres traded Connor Joe to the Cincinnati Reds on May 9 for right-handed pitcher Andrew Moore and cash.

Now, they will move on from Gonzalez, who likewise did not offer enough to continue in his role as a right-handed hitting option in Mike Shildt's outfield rotation. The Padres had signed him last November, then saw him slash .400/.431/.564 in 21 spring training games to seize a roster spot.

Gonzalez failed to maintain that clip into the regular season. He was hitting .300 as recently as April 22, but he only had one extra-base hit in 69 plate appearances.

More to come on this story from Padres on SI.

This article first appeared on San Diego Padres on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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