3 surprises and 2 disappointments from first month of MLB regular season

Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Jason Delay (55) and second baseman Ji Hwan Bae (3) and shortstop Oneil Cruz (right) greet left fielder Bryan Reynolds (10) after all players scored runs against the Chicago White Sox during the fifth inning at PNC Park. Reynolds hit a three run triple and scored on an error on the play. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

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Xander Bogaerts (right) and left fielder Juan Soto (left) walk off the field during the eighth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports /

MLB Disappointment: San Diego Padres

The San Diego Padres have gotten off to a slow start (13-14). Fortunately for them, they are only 1.5 games back in the National League West.

Padres general manager AJ Preller aggressively traded for Juan Soto last season. So far, Soto has struggled to find his footing in San Diego, with the 24-year-old hitting .183/.345/.344 with four home runs and nine RBI this season. And for a team that has invested significant resources into its offense with three $280+ million contracts, the offense has been a massive disappointment.

The Padres’ offense ranks 24th in baseball in OPS (.669) and 23rd in runs (99). Their pitching has been equally as underwhelming, posting a 19th-best team ERA (4.41) and struggles in the rotation, as well as highly-paid reliever Robert Suarez being placed on the 60-day Injured List.

Eventually, the Padres will bounce back. The team, especially Soto, is too talented not to. But it’s been a highly disappointing start for a team who is all-in on winning now.

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