Each MLB team ranked by watchability in 2018
By Matt O'Leary
Number 25: San Diego Padres
The Padres, have been a bad team for the better part of a decade (noticing a trend with these teams?). Even though they’ll likely finish out of the playoffs and at the bottom of the National League West there are still some interesting pieces to this team.
Let’s start with the newest addition Eric Hosmer. He got signed to a long-term deal after seven years of service with the Royals. Last year with the Royals Hosmer hit .318 with 25 homers and 94 runs batted in.
At 28 years old he’s expected to be a part of the Padres long-term plans in their rebuild process.
Then there’s Wil Myers who has become an extremely productive player since coming to San Diego from Tampa. The 27-year-old hit 28 and 30 homers respectively each of the last two years with one homer in his first five games this year.
Since Myers is signed through 2022, expect both him and Hosmer to see this thing through to competitiveness again.
One of the best stories from this year has been Christian Villanueva. Seemingly out of nowhere Villanueva has seven dingers in just 19 games played. He’s slashing .355/.444/.774 for a 1.219 OPS which is just absolutely insane.
Between Myers, Hosmer and now Villanueva at least there’s some substance when the Friars are on television. Ranking 25th still isn’t great but it’s not a terrible option if you’re up late on the east coast looking for some baseball.