Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.
Left fielder, Alex Dickerson, back problems could sideline him for the full season.
But several other injured Padres are healing.
Rookie center fielder Manuel Margot is running and taking batting practice and could soon be going out on a rehab assignment. Outfielder Travis Jankowski has the boot off his right foot, although his return could be farther off. 
But two replacements, Franchy Cordero and Jose Pirela, have been playing very well recently.  
What will become of Cordero and Pirela when Margot returns?  
Cordero, 22, was 7-for-14 in the three-game series against the Reds with a double, the first three homers of his Major League career, five RBIs and five runs scored. He is hitting .339 since being promoted from Triple-A El Paso on May 27 to replace the injured Margot, who many saw as a Rookie of the Year candidate before he suffered a calf injury.    
Pirela is hitting .441 since being promoted from Triple-A El Paso on June 6 with five walks, four doubles, two homers, seven RBIs and nine runs scored in nine games. He has a .513 on-base percentage and a .735 slugging percentage for a 1.247 OPS.  
Again, what do you do with Cordero and Pirela when Margot returns? As long as they keep hitting, neither will be returning to El Paso.    
Cordero could move to left, where Pirela has been playing. Pirela could play some second - his best infield position - with Yangervis Solarte sliding back to third. Cory Spangenberg, who is in a 10-for-22 run over the past six games, would be available to play second, third and left.    
Certainly, it gives the Padres much more flexibility.    
And Margot might not be the only Padre returning from the disabled list in the near future.  
Right-handed starter Trevor Cahill, who has been on the disabled list since May 14 with right shoulder inflammation, felt good on Tuesday and will has travel with the Padres to Milwaukee and Chicago. Cahill is expected to face hitters in Milwaukee and begin a rehab assignment before the Padres return home June 23.    
NOTE WORTHY:    
--The Padres bullpen has had some troubles of late. But Reds' manager Bryan Price praised the Padres bullpen after his team was swept at Petco Park earlier this week. "We couldn't get anything started against their bullpen," said Price. In 4 2/3 innings against the Reds, Padres relievers allowed no runs on two hits with five strikeouts. Brandon Maurer picked up two saves in the series.    
--2B-3B Yangervis Solarte is hitting .379 (11-for-29) over his last eight games with two homers, eight RBIs and five runs scored with five walks and a hit-by-pitch giving him a .486 on-base percentage. He has raised his batting average from .245 to .262 during the run.  
--C Austin Hedges is 7-for-20 in his last five starts with a double, six RBIs and two runs scored. But he has also struck out nine times in those five games, meaning he went 7-for-11 when he put the ball in play.  
--SS Erick Aybar is 6-for-16 in his last four starts with two doubles, a RBI and three runs.    
--3B Ryan Schimpf hit his second homer for Triple-A El Paso Thursday night. He is hitting .250 for the Chihuahuas.