Brandon Lockridge DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

San Diego Padres outfielder Brandon Lockridge has been told he will make the Opening Day roster, and he's expected to platoon in left field with Jason Heyward to begin the season, according to MLB.com's AJ Cassavell. Lockridge, who bats right-handed, will be on the short side of the platoon with Heyward, primarily entering the starting lineup when the Friars face a left-handed starting pitcher. The 28-year-old earned a spot on the Opening Day roster by hitting .364 with seven stolen bases and two RBI in 20 Cactus League games this spring. He made his big-league debut in 2024 with SD but appeared in just 12 games, going 2-for-12 with a homer, RBI and two stolen bases. Lockridge's main draw is his speed -- he stole 50 bags in the majors and minors with the Padres and Yankees in 2024 -- but because his playing time will be limited, he's mainly an asset for his speed in NL-only fantasy leagues.

San Diego Padres outfielder Brandon Lockridge has been recalled from Triple-A El Paso on Wednesday. The 27-year-old was acquired by the team at the trade deadline in the move that sent Enyel De Los Santos to the New York Yankees. This could end up being a nice addition for the Padres. Lockridge is slashing .306/.410/.397 with two home runs and 46 steals in Triple-A this season. He might not be an everyday starter at the MLB level, but he could be a solid contributor. The Padres will likely use him as depth and a defensive replacement or pinch-runner. Fantasy managers can continue to ignore Lockridge.