Notes: Pham OKed to return; Wingenter out

SAN DIEGO -- Padres outfielder Tommy Pham has been cleared to begin working out with the team after recovering from the coronavirus, manager Jayce Tingler announced Friday. Pham's arrival at Padres camp means he has passed a set of protocols -- including two negative tests outside a 24-hour span and approval from a physician.

It's a welcome sight for the Padres, who could certainly use Pham's potent bat in their outfield mix. Despite Pham's late arrival, the Padres expect him to be ready to play on Opening Day.

"We look forward to seeing him today and are glad he's cleared and feeling well," said Padres manager Jayce Tingler. "Excited to see him on the field."

When asked about Pham's unexpected appearance at Gallagher Square on Thursday night, Tingler said "I definitely understand the concerns." Along with a handful of fans, Pham watched the Padres' intrasquad game from the grassy area, which overlooks the right-center-field fence at Petco Park.

But Tingler noted that Pham had already tested negative and had received clearance to end his quarantine from state and local health officials, although he wasn’t formally cleared to return to camp by Major League Baseball until Friday morning.

"We had a little bit more information than maybe the public [did]," Tingler said. "We're certainly aware of what the imagery on that could look like, and so we definitely understand the concerns. But he was cleared by local doctors, local officials. His quarantine was up."

Pham, who arrived in the December trade that sent Hunter Renfroe and Xavier Edwards to Tampa Bay, is projected to be the team's everyday left fielder. He battled the lingering effects of a UCL strain in his right elbow during Spring Training, but has since made a full recovery.

In 145 games last season, Pham batted .273/.369/.450 with 21 homers. His penchant for reaching base is sorely needed for a Padres offense that finished 25th in the Majors in OBP last season.

Wingenter sidelined

Right-hander Trey Wingenter is dealing with "irritation" in his right elbow, according to Tingler, and will be shut down from throwing at least temporarily. The team plans to reevaluate Wingenter early next week after a few days on the sideline.

If Wingenter's ailment proves serious, it's another blow to the Padres' deep bullpen. Right-hander Andres Muñoz underwent Tommy John surgery in March and lefty José Castillo is expected to miss at least six weeks with a lat strain.

Wingenter was on the fringe of the Padres' bullpen race, and with rosters set to expand to 30 for the first two weeks of the season, he had an obvious chance to find a role.

In parts of two seasons with the Padres, Wingenter owns a 5.14 ERA, though he may have run into some bad luck last season. In 51 outings, he posted a 5.65 ERA but a 3.61 FIP -- a metric set to the scale of ERA but assuming league average results on balls in play.

Patiño impresses

Lefty Joey Lucchesi and righty Luis Patiño both looked sharp during Thursday night's intrasquad game, allowing one hit apiece. Lucchesi worked four innings and Patiño three.

"From a pitching standpoint, I thought last night has been our sharpest game of work so far," Tingler said. "Joey Lucchesi and Patiño set the tone. They both worked with a good tempo, they were throwing strikes, they demanded action."

Patiño, the team's No. 3 prospect, remains a long shot for the Opening Day rotation, but with the recent spate of bullpen injuries, there might still be space on an expanded roster for him.

"He had the fastball working, and that's primarily what he was using,” Tingler said. “But he mixed in some sliders, had some good changeups in there. I think when he's locating the fastball, with as fast as his arm is, all his secondary pitches are very effective. It starts with the fastball, and he works off of that.