Grandal feels fine after first batting practice session

PEORIA, Ariz. -- There was good news on the injury front Tuesday for the Padres in that catcher Yasmani Grandal reported no pain in his left middle finger after taking batting practice the previous day.

Grandal, who is suspended for the first 50 games of the season after testing positive for testosterone, took batting practice for the first time since the 2012 season ended. A switch-hitter, Grandal was able to hit from both sides of the plate.

Grandal didn't pick up a bat all winter, giving the two inflamed tendons in his finger time to heal. But on Monday, he was cleared to hit again. The test was hitting left-handed, as the left hand is the dominant hand swinging from that side of the plate.

"We wanted to figure out if it hurt or not ... and it didn't," Grandal said. "Now we've got to work on the swing and get it game ready. And hopefully I'll get in some games this spring."

Just how many games -- even though the Padres will play a club-record 38 games -- remains to be seen, as the Padres will give catchers John Baker and Nick Hundley a majority of the playing time this spring.