Padres call up JP Sears, option Ron Marinaccio; Bogaerts rests, Merrill dealing with ankle
Ahead of Wednesday’s game against the San Francisco Giants at Petco Park, the Padres recalled left-handed starter JP Sears from Triple-A El Paso to start against the Giants and sent right-handed reliever Ron Marinaccio back to El Paso.
Manager Mike Shildt stressed that Sears is back in the mix with the Padres, noting the organization’s belief in his ability to attack hitters and throw strikes. Sears has been working on sharpening his arsenal, including a sweeper, and Shildt said the club is intentional about how and when he uses his pitches against different hitters. He also acknowledged the challenge of changing organizations previously but underscored that Sears has grown more comfortable and is ready to compete.
In addition, Shildt explained why Xander Bogaerts was off on Wednesday. He cited a combination of routine management of the regulars’ workloads and Bogaerts’ recent grind in the stretch. With Jose Iglesias available to play, the team gave Bogaerts a day to reset. Shildt emphasized that Bogaerts could have played if needed but that the break could pay dividends.
The Padres also provided an update on Jackson Merrill’s ankle. The center fielder’s imaging remains clean and there are no long-term structural concerns, but there is bone bruising and residual discomfort. The team described his progress as incremental and ongoing, with decisions on next steps and a potential return timeline to be made as evaluations continue. It could be a matter of days to up to about a week or more, depending on how the healing progresses and whether he can rejoin competition this weekend.
What to watch
– Sears’ first start back with San Diego: how quickly he finds a rhythm and how the Padres deploy his varied mix of pitches.
– Bogaerts’ rest: whether the day off helps him rebound from a stretch of heavy usage and if Iglesias’ availability adds flexibility.
– Merrill’s timetable: any signs of improvement that would clear the path for a return to action in the near term.
Summary and perspective
The Padres are managing roster depth to keep their pitching staff flexible while giving a veteran hitter a breather and monitoring a promising prospect’s ankle. Sears’ return provides needed pitching depth as the team navigates a busy stretch, and the ongoing evaluations around Merrill will shape the lineup and rotation in the days ahead. The club remains hopeful that these adjustments will help sustain consistency as they chase wins in a competitive divisional race.