SD's Myers starts in LF, but remains full-time 1B

PHILADELPHIA -- Wil Myers played left field in Monday's 4-3 win, after spending the first week of the season -- and all of Spring Training -- at first base. Still, both Myers and manager Andy Green referred to Myers as the Padres' "full-time first baseman."
Green said Myers will see time in the outfield sporadically, typically when Brett Wallace starts at first base. To keep Myers' bat in the lineup, he'll move to left, giving Melvin Upton Jr. a day off.
"I still think of myself as a full-time first baseman," said Myers, who hit a solo shot Monday off Phillies starter Aaron Nola. "But I know Brett's obviously a good hitter, and we've got to get his bat in the lineup. This is a way that he can get in there, so I don't mind going out there and playing left field."
Myers played outfield for the majority of his first three seasons, before converting to first base. He began the transition last season, but it wasn't a full-blown position switch until this spring.

The Padres had Myers play first exclusively in the Cactus League, and they even limited his outfield reps in workouts to allow him to focus on first. Myers started working in left last week and said the position came right back to him.
"I've played outfield obviously for a long time, so it's like riding a bike," he said.
Green didn't specify how frequently Myers will play the outfield, but he noted that the decision will likely come down to Wallace's offensive success.
"That's really hard to nail down at this point in time," Green said. "If [Wallace] is swinging the bat well, then the occasional starts become more frequent. You have to get your bench guys starts, or else they're completely ineffective when they get in the game, they have no rhythm."
Myers has impressed the Padres with the quick transition he's made to the first-base job. But there's still a learning curve. As Myers himself pointed out, he should've thrown home during the fifth inning of Sunday's game in Colorado instead of trying to ignite a 3-6-3 double play. With the speedy Charlie Blackmon running, Myers never had much of a chance at turning two.

It was by no means an egregious mistake, but Myers pointed out, "The more I play over there, the more familiar I'll be [with those situations]."
For now, at least, Myers will have plenty of time to get comfortable there. Even with the club's recent signing of James Loney to a Minor League deal, Green views Myers as his everyday first baseman for the long haul.
"It's impossible to forecast an entire season, sitting here today," Green said. " ... Wil has bounced around a lot in his career. We kind of like the idea of solidifying him in one spot, but we always knew this was out in front of us at some point in time. [I'm] not committed to saying he'll never move again, but right now he's our first baseman."
Wallace at third base 'a possibility'
Yangervis Solarte's injury has created a bit of a void at third base, with Adam Rosales and Alexi Amarista having filled it the past two days.
Wallace, meanwhile, has played 22 games at third in his career, and Green said Wallace will begin taking ground balls there.
Green said it's "a possibility" the Padres give Wallace a start or two at third -- although not in the immediate future.
"It's not something we came into the season expecting to have to do, because you have Solarte locking down the position," Green said. "But I'd say at this point in time, all options are on the table, trying to figure out how to get our most productive lineup in."
Two starters get a breather
The Padres didn't get into Philadelphia until after midnight ET after a flight from Denver, which was part of the reason Green gave starts to two of his reserves (Wallace and Amarista).
"With a couple tough travel days, today being one of them, we're going to do what we can to keep our starters rested and to get our bench guys in the mix," Green said.