Maybin: San Diego fans were 'great to me'

SAN DIEGO -- When the Padres acquired Craig Kimbrel on the eve of Opening Day, there wasn't much reason for their fans to cry about the fact that the acquisition of the dominant closer came at the expense of having to bid adieu to Cameron Maybin and the potential that he had not fulfilled over the previous few seasons.

Maybin was viewed by many to simply be a throw-in component of the deal that was centered on the Padres' willingness to relieve the Braves of the remainder of the Melvin Upton Jr.'s contract. Nearly five months later, this seems laughable, at least to Braves fans.

Maybin and the Braves opened a three-game series on Monday night at Petco Park. It was the first time the rejuvenated outfielder has returned to San Diego since the April 5 trade.

"My energy level is always high, so I expect it will be fun to run around and take it all in," Maybin said. "The [San Diego] fans were great to me and treated me as if I was a hometown guy."

Video: ATL@SD: Maybin's monster solo shot at Petco Park

Maybin batted .246 and compiled a .665 OPS while playing for the Padres from 2011-14. Injuries limited him to a total of 109 games during his final two years in San Diego.

Provided the fortune of good health this year, Maybin entered Monday having hit .277 with a .733 OPS in his first 107 games with the Braves.

"Now, he's doing what he is capable of doing," Braves second baseman Jace Peterson said. "It's been a lot of fun to watch."

This week's series also serves as a homecoming for Peterson, who made his Major League debut for the Padres last year and then was acquired by the Braves in the December trade that sent Justin Upton to San Diego.

While Peterson and Matt Wisler were roommates during their Minor League days with the Padres, they envisioned playing at Petco Park together. But they certainly did not expect their first opportunity to do so would come as they both were wearing a Braves uniform.

Wisler, who also was acquired in the April trade with the Padres, will start Tuesday night's game against his former organization. The 22-year-old pitcher made his Major League debut with Atlanta earlier this year.