Melancon notches saves in 1st 2 SD chances

SAN DIEGO -- The Padres still haven't named a closer and have no plans to do so publicly. But one game into the regular season, it's not exactly a mystery any longer.

Consider Thursday's decision-making process: San Diego had all four of its closer candidates -- Keone Kela, Emilio Pagán, Drew Pomeranz and Mark Melancon -- fresh and available. Manager Jayce Tingler used all four of them for one inning apiece in that precise order -- meaning Melancon got the ball for the ninth inning.

Sure sounds like Melancon is the Padres' closer, doesn't it?

Tingler left that question open-ended all spring. There was no competitive advantage to naming a closer publicly, he said. So, he didn't.

But Tingler has also indicated that his preference is to have a designated closer, rather than employ a by-committee approach. All four of those relievers have experience in that role, but none more than Melancon, who worked a 1-2-3 ninth on seven pitches to record his 206th career save in San Diego's 8-7 Opening Day win over Arizona. In Friday's 4-2 victory, the right-hander pitched another scoreless ninth, working around an error and single that both came with one out, to secure his second save of '21.

"He's done it for a long time," Tingler said. "He's done it 200-plus times. The experience plays a factor, the personality plays a factor. He's able to control his heart rate. He's a pitch-maker. He's got weapons. And even on the days his stuff's not A-plus sharp, he's got the mindset to be able to will outs and get it done."

The Padres signed Melancon to a one-year deal during the offseason after he posted a 2.78 ERA in 23 appearances for the Braves last year. At the time, they figured he'd be one of their primary back-end bullpen weapons.

Still, it seems possible -- perhaps likely, even -- that Melancon's closer role isn't exclusive. Tingler has emphasized a desire to keep his relievers as fresh as possible as they build their way back up to the workload of a 162-game regular season. There will be nights when Melancon simply isn't available.

That's where the depth comes in. Pomeranz, Pagán and Kela have all spent time closing in the past. In theory, any of those three could be called into that role in the future on one of Melancon's planned rest days.

"With the workload that's going to be asked out of these guys, depth is going to be very critical," Tingler said.

That last part is particularly true if the Padres win as many games as they think they might this season. They hope to have ninth-inning leads to protect on a regular basis.

If, indeed, Melancon is the Padres' closer, that title isn't binding. When he needs a night off, he'll get it -- just like the rest of the Padres relief corps.

"Especially early, we're going to be a little bit more conservative," Tingler added -- a nod to the early season schedule that features the Padres opening with 24 games in 25 days.

Campusano starts behind the plate
Luis Campusano made his first career start behind the plate on Friday, going 1-for-3 with a single and a walk. The Padres' No. 3 prospect -- and MLB Pipeline's No. 45 overall -- earned his way onto the roster with a strong showing after starting catcher Austin Nola sustained a fractured left middle finger.

"He's had a great Spring Training," Tingler said. "The finger situation with Nola may have sped the process up, but he's answered the bell in every way."

In no uncertain terms, Campusano is playing for a chance to maintain his roster spot when Nola returns, presumably later this month. The Padres aren't opposed to carrying three catchers, and they're enamored with Campusano's bat. The 22-year-old needs to polish his defense, but the Padres think he'd make an undeniable impact as a right-handed bat off the bench.

Separately, Campusano has also moved past any potential legal trouble stemming from an October arrest for marijuana possession in his home state of Georgia. All spring, the Padres maintained that Campusano's status wouldn't be affected, and earlier this week, Georgia prosecutors declined to pursue charges against Campusano.

Homecoming for Musgrove
Joe Musgrove spent his off-day this week watching a ballgame.

A San Diego native, Musgrove attended Grossmont High School and maintains strong ties to the local community. But as a professional baseball player tied to a strict spring schedule, it had been a while since he'd seen his former team in action.

Now that Musgrove is back in San Diego -- acquired from Pittsburgh in a January trade -- he has time for that. On Tuesday afternoon, Musgrove picked up his father and his sister, and then they watched the Foothillers knock off San Marcos, 13-8.

"I haven't been able to do that in a long time," Musgrove said. "I enjoyed it."

Musgrove is slated for his first start for the Padres on Saturday against the D-backs. Much has been made about his return to San Diego and his childhood love of the Padres. Musgrove's family had a season-ticket plan in right field at Petco Park when he was growing up. He chose No. 44 to honor his favorite player, Jake Peavy.

But once Saturday's start comes around, Musgrove says it's all business.

"I'm not trying any harder now that I'm a Padre than I was when I was a Pirate,” Musgrove said. “But it will mean a lot more to the people that are coming to watch me. … Now, it'll be a genuine cheer for me -- now that I'm representing the team that they actually want to root for.

“It definitely is something special to me. But I put everything I have out there every time."