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Tony Gwynn Jr. to bat lead off against San Diego Padres

By Cameron La Fontaine

Mar 20, 2014; Clearwater, FL, USA; Philadelphia Phillies Tony Gwynn Jr. (19) celebrates with outfielder Marlon Byrd (3) after scoring in the first inning of the spring training exhibition game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Bright House Field. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 20, 2014; Clearwater, FL, USA; Philadelphia Phillies Tony Gwynn Jr. (19) celebrates with outfielder Marlon Byrd (3) after scoring in the first inning of the spring training exhibition game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Bright House Field. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports /
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Exactly three months after his father and former San Diego Padres super-star died after a four-year fight against cancer, Tony Gwynn Jr. will get the start for the Philadelphia Phillies and bat leadoff as they travel to 19 TonSan Diego to take on the Padres.

Gwynn Jr. has struggled this season with the knowledge of his father’s health declining and then his passing away. Gwynn struggled at the plate the first two months of the season and hit well below .200. Gwynn took some time away from the Phillies to be with his family after his dad’s death.

Gwynn was sent down to Triple-A Lehigh Valley in mid-July and he played well and refocused on baseball hitting .290 with a .383 OBP in 20 games before being called back up by the Phillies.

“When you’re by yourself, you tend to dwell on the past a lot,” Gwynn told the Union-Tribune Monday. “When I’m with the guys, or with my family and friends, I try my best to focus on the now. I have so many memories of my dad, I’ll never not have something positive to think about my dad. But for the sake of grieving, for the sake of continuing on, I have to focus on now.”

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