The San Diego Padres faced some difficult roster decisions at the end of spring training, with none more challenging than determining the fate of infielder Eguy Rosario. Ultimately, the club decided to designate Rosario for assignment in favor of experienced veterans, including Jose Iglesias and Yuli Gurriel, who secured spots on the 40-man roster.
Rosario has flashed potential, particularly at Triple-A, where he’s produced strong offensive numbers. However, his time in the majors has been marked by high strikeout rates, inconsistent on-base numbers, and a disappointing showing in spring training.
Following Rosario’s DFA, Padres president of baseball operations A.J. Preller spoke highly of the 25-year-old, stating that he anticipates finding a trade destination for him soon. “Eguy’s a big league player,” Preller told Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune. “He should get a chance to play at the MLB level elsewhere, and we’re looking to get some value in a trade this week.”
Despite Rosario’s limited major league experience—just 100 games—his opportunities in San Diego have been scarce due to the team’s deep infield, which includes Manny Machado, Xander Bogaerts, Luis Arraez, Jake Cronenworth, and, through 2024, Ha-Seong Kim. Injuries occasionally opened brief call-up opportunities, but Rosario never surpassed last season’s 57 plate appearances in the majors. In those chances, he posted a .245/.283/.500 slash line with five home runs, seven doubles, and a triple, while drawing just four walks and striking out 34 times.
At Triple-A, Rosario has displayed a more balanced skill set. Across three seasons with the Padres’ affiliate in El Paso, he has compiled a .275/.362/.502 batting line over 1,164 plate appearances. While his power numbers and overall offensive performance are stronger against left-handed pitchers, he has also shown respectable right-on-right results at that level. In the majors, his production against righties has been poor (.146/.226/.146 in 54 plate appearances), but his numbers against lefties are eye-popping: .348/.348/.870 across 46 trips to the plate.
Defensively, Rosario has spent most of his time at third base, accumulating over 3,400 professional innings at the position. He’s also logged significant experience at second base (2,600+ innings) and shortstop (1,200+ innings), with brief appearances at first base and right field. According to Baseball America, Rosario possesses a strong arm, but his defensive actions and range suggest he is best suited for second or third base rather than shortstop.
Any team acquiring Rosario via trade or waivers would obtain five seasons of club control. However, due to his lack of minor league options, he would need to be placed directly on the acquiring team’s active roster.
While Rosario’s bat has yet to translate fully at the MLB level, his positional versatility and Triple-A success make him an intriguing target for clubs in need of infield depth. Preller and the Padres now have a week to find him a new home before deciding whether to keep him in the organization or risk losing him on waivers.
Leave a Reply