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The long offseason is over: The Padres play a baseball game on Friday.

As always, there should be somewhat of a strategy to your Spring Training baseball consumption. The priorities are … different. You’d probably like to see San Diego win a bunch of games. You’d probably like to see Manny Machado and Juan Soto send a few baseballs into orbit. Does any of that really matter?

No, not really. But there are other things to watch for -- spring storylines that could significantly impact the 2023 Padres. Here’s what you should be looking at over the next month, as Cactus League play gets underway.

How will Tatis hold up?

When Fernando Tatis Jr. returns on April 20, it will have been more than 18 months since he last played a big league baseball game. Since then, he’s undergone three surgeries, he's been suspended for a positive PED test and he appears to be transitioning to a new position -- right field.

That’s a lot to take in. First and foremost is Tatis’ health -- and any lingering effects from those two wrist operations and shoulder repair. Manager Bob Melvin noted that Tatis would be eased into action. Tatis also appears to be sticking with his two-handed follow-through from late in the 2021 season (though he says that’s an adjustment to make his swing more compact, not due to injury).

“The health is the most important thing right now, making sure that coming back from the wrist revision and definitely from the shoulder, that he’s pacing himself,” Padres general manager A.J. Preller said. “I think he’s handled himself really well so far here in camp.”

Who will start in right field?

From April 20 onward, it’ll be Tatis. But what about those first 20 games? That’s about one-eighth of the season -- critical games in what figures to be a tight National League West race.

If there’s one major roster battle this spring, that’s the one. The Padres have answers at just about every position, but they don’t have a solidified replacement for Tatis. Perhaps the most obvious option is Matt Carpenter, a designated hitter/first baseman platoon piece once Tatis returns. But San Diego also has its share of outfielders -- Adam Engel, José Azocar, David Dahl and Brandon Dixon.

“It’s going to be good competition for all these guys to get a good look, get plenty of at-bats,” Melvin said. “There aren’t many spots on the roster that are available, especially after Fernando comes back. So it’s going to be pretty good competition. You like to have that dynamic in Spring Training.”

Can Campusano hold his own?

This has to be the year, doesn’t it? The Padres have long been waiting for Luis Campusano’s big league breakout, and they appear to have committed themselves to it in 2023.

Once a highly touted catching prospect, Campusano is the unquestioned No. 2 this season, and the team is hopeful he will grow into a timeshare with starter Austin Nola. His strengths are obvious -- a high-upside bat, excellent pitch-framing and a solid arm. His weaknesses? Those are largely based around his inexperience with game-calling and handling a pitching staff.

“He’s going to be catching everybody,” Melvin said. “This Spring Training is a big deal for him. He wants to acclimate and show these guys that he’s ready."

Who will emerge in the bullpen?

Aside from the outfield, the only other roster battle is in the bullpen. It’s a doozy. San Diego has more than a dozen viable relief arms and potentially only one vacancy in a seven-man ‘pen.

Good luck sorting through all the options. Steven Wilson and Adrian Morejon appear to be at the forefront of that competition. But Rule 5 Draft pick Jose Lopez is intriguing. José Castillo and Michel Baez are healthy again. Veteran Craig Stammen is back. And don’t write off the possibility of a depth starter, like Brent Honeywell Jr., cracking the roster in long relief.