Tommy Medica

Medica impressed enough in spring training to land a spot on the Padres’ Opening Day roster last year, but 2014 was a missed opportunity for the first baseman and occasional outfielder. In particular, his propensity to strike out couldn’t be escaped, and he was unable to exploit the void left behind when starting first baseman Yonder Alonso was forced to the disabled list on two occasions, the latter of which ended his campaign for good on Aug. 12. While Medica bashed a respectable nine homers among 240 at-bats, he concluded 29 percent of his plate appearances with a punchout. In an organization starved for power, his success against southpaws, namely six long balls in 98 at-bats, affords him an inkling of utility going forward, but a healthy Alonso will relegate Medica to the bench most days.

Skipping Triple-A entirely, Medica jumped from Double-A San Antonio to San Diego as a September call-up, following a 76-game stint in which he accumulated 41 extra-base hits on his way to a .296/.372/.582 line in 280 at-bats. Although he crushed three home runs in 69 major league at-bats, he also struck out 29.1 percent of the time, which he'll have to keep in check, if he intends to land a spot on the Padres in spring training. With Yonder Alonso holding down first base, Medica may land at Triple-A Tucson out of spring training in order to gain everyday at-bats