San Diego Padres DVOA, Stats, & MLB Rankings

San Diego Padres shortstop Ha-Seong Kim (back) began experiencing back spasms on Tuesday in camp while doing drills and will take advantage of the team's off day on Thursday to get some extra rest this week, according to multiple sources. Kim's rest this week is being described as "precautionary" and "preventative." He didn't take part in drills on Wednesday but was said to have been virtually pain-free by Tuesday night. The expectation is that he'll return to Cactus League action on Friday night against the San Francisco Giants. The Padres don't seem concerned at all by the 28-year-old's injury, so he should be ready for two-game series in Korea against the Dodgers on March 20-21 to kick off the 2024 season. Kim's fantasy stock is on the rise after a breakout 2023 campaign, and he's also gone 6-for-15 with a home run and two steals in spring training.

San Diego Padres left-handed reliever Yuki Matsui (back), who dealt with early spring back spasms, is throwing a bullpen session in camp on Tuesday. Manager Mike Shildt said that if all goes well with the bullpen, there should be plenty of time to get Matsui built up for the start of the 2024 regular season. The 28-year-old southpaw struck out the side in his Cactus League debut in the team's first spring game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, but he developed back spasms shortly after that outing and has been shut down since. The Japanese reliever should have a prominent high-leverage role in San Diego's bullpen in 2024 after signing a five-year, $28 million deal over the winter, and he could even take over closing duties in the ninth inning if Robert Suarez falters at all.

San Diego Padres catcher Luis Campusano went 1-for-3 with two-run home run in Sunday's Cactus League contest versus the Seattle Mariners. Campusano, 25, belted his first dinger of the spring to help the Padres cruise to a 12-4 victory. One of the Padres former top prospects, Campusano is still just scratching the surface at the big-league level and will have the opportunity to be the primary catcher for San Diego, ahead of the Kyle Higashioka. Campusano has struggled with injuries in the past, but played in career-high 49 games in 2023. During that time, he his a respectable .319 with seven long balls and 30 RBI. While he struggles with his defense, his offense is what will keep him in the lineup and make him a boom-or-bust option in deeper leagues.

San Diego Padres left-hander Yuki Matsui (back) has resumed playing catch in camp on Friday. The 28-year-old reliever was shut down from throwing last weekend due to inflammation in his back, but it wasn't a serious concern and he's already back to throwing. It remains unclear when he'll be able to get into another Cactus League game after striking out the side in his impressive debut last Thursday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Barring another setback, though, Matsui will have time to get up to speed for the two-game opening series against the Dodgers in Korea on March 20-21. After signing a five-year, $28 million deal with the Friars in December, Matsui should have a significant late-inning role in SD in his rookie season, perhaps even taking over closing duties if Robert Suarez struggles in the ninth-inning role.

San Diego Padres left-hander Yuki Matsui's (back) MRI exam showed inflammation but no structural damage in his back, according to manager Mike Shildt. Matsui is considered day-to-day. Matsui was scratched from spring training action over the weekend due to tightness in his back, but it appears the injury isn't very serious. It's unclear when the 28-year-old southpaw reliever will appear in another Cactus League game, though, after he was impressive in striking out the side in his inning of work in the spring training opener last Thursday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. If Matsui is anywhere close to as dominant this year as he was in his Cactus League opener, he'll be in the mix for saves in San Diego in his first year in the big leagues.