Notes: O'Grady brings valuable versatility

The Padres built a team that, if all goes as planned, is sturdy enough to still be standing as October gets rolling. A strong starting staff and potent lineup is a main part of the equation, but it’s not the only one -- and that’s where Brian O'Grady may factor in.

Versatility is as important as brawn for any team prepared to labor through a seven-month season. O’Grady’s strength as a center fielder, combined with an ability to play all outfield positions plus first base, was a selling point during the few weeks last winter that he was officially a free agent, following his release by the Rays.

The pairing with San Diego made sense -- the Padres were seeking minor reinforcements to add to the bench, and O’Grady can ably fill in for any number of regulars on defense.

“I learned my last year in college, when I switched to first base because we really didn't have anybody else to do it. ... That was when versatility was really starting to become a thing in baseball,” O’Grady said. “I think I got lucky at the time that I started moving all over. It's just part into really how teams are trying to operate now.”

O’Grady’s agreement with the Padres, however satisfying to the 28-year-old outfielder, actually came close to not happening. O’Grady wasn’t just testing the waters in the United States over the winter; he was fielding offers from overseas, too. In fact, he was closing in on an agreement to sign with an international team -- he hinted it was with a club in Japan or Korea -- when the Padres upped their offer from a non-roster invite to a guaranteed contract.

“With only a few hours left before I had to tell one of the international teams yes or no, the Padres came back and basically matched it and I was obviously very happy about that,” O’Grady said.

O’Grady has played in 584 Minor League games since he was drafted by the Reds in 2014, but he has limited Major League experience. He spent the majority of the 2020 season at the Rays’ alternate training site, getting two callups to the big leagues that lasted just a few days each. Including 2019 with the Reds, O’Grady has appeared in 30 big league games.

With some success, O’Grady could see those numbers rise in 2021.

“We love the versatility,” manager Jayce Tingler said. “He definitely has some juice in his bat and we think there are some things we can do to help him around the strike zone a little bit and become just a complete dangerous hitter all around.”

Castillo coping

There are almost no positives from which to draw when a pitcher finds out he has to undergo Tommy John surgery, but Tingler said left-hander José Castillo was “in about as good of a mood as you can be with that terrible news” when the manager spoke with him Friday. Why? Tingler pointed out that a definitive diagnosis takes the uncertainty out of mapping out a long-term plan, and with the knowledge of what is ahead of him comes some level of peace of mind.

“There's no gray area. It's not a partial tear and [then] you [have to] get three or four doctors’ opinions,” Tingler said. “It's more, ‘Hey this is what needs to happen next, and we have to have surgery and then move forward.’

“It's super frustrating for Castillo, especially with everything he's gone through, as hard as he's worked to come back from other different injuries. But at the same time, it's pretty black and white, and now he knows what's in front of him, and we work through the next 10-, 11-, 12-month process.”

Up next

An intriguing pitching matchup awaits the Padres and the Dodgers when they meet in Glendale on Saturday. The Padres will face the Dodgers’ newly acquired right-hander Trevor Bauer, with righty Chris Paddack taking the hill for San Diego. First pitch is scheduled for 12:05 p.m. PT, and the game will be televised on FOX Sports San Diego and MLB.TV.