Padres, players ready for eventful FanFest

SAN DIEGO - Approximately two dozen Padres players will take part in Saturday's FanFest, presented by State Farm at Petco Park.

FanFest, a free event which will include clinics, forums and autograph signings among other events, will be open to the general public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. PT.

The most up-to-date information can be found online at padres.com/fanfest.

Padres Platinum, Gold and Blue Members receive exclusive early access from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. with printable passes made available through their online account manager. Fans who are not Members can register at no cost at padres.com/fanfest for a special pass allowing them to enter at 9:30 a.m.

Free parking will be provided in four locations: the three surface lots along Imperial Ave. (southeast side of Petco Park) and the Padres Parkade (10th Ave at J St).

In addition to current players, former players, broadcasters and members of the front office will be part of FanFest.

The list of players tentatively scheduled to sign autographs includes: Yonder Alonso, Joaquin Benoit, Kyle Blanks, Everth Cabrera, Andrew Cashner, Chris Denorfia, Robbie Erlin, Yasmani Grandal, Jedd Gyorko, Nick Hundley, Josh Johnson, Casey Kelly, Cory Luebke, Cameron Maybin, Tommy Medica, Xavier Nady, Carlos Quentin, Rene Rivera, Tyson Ross, Tim Stauffer, Huston Street, Eric Stults, Dale Thayer, Will Venable, Nick Vincent and Joe Wieland.

Fans will have the opportunity to get autographs, tour the clubhouse, run the bases and catch fly balls in the outfield. Also featured will be a kids' pitching clinic with Ross and a kids' batting clinic with Alonso. The interactive Military and First Responder Zone at Park at the Park returns this year. Park at the Park will also feature the full KidsFest setup, including bounce houses, games, obstacle courses and face painting.

The Padres are encouraging fans to arrive early to get their first choice of autograph session vouchers and Garage Sale merchandise. The Garage Sale, which includes Padres merchandise, including Minor League apparel, raised over $64,000 for the Padres Foundation last year.

Padres owners Ron Fowler and Peter Seidler, Padres executives Mike Dee, Josh Byrnes and AJ Hinch, manager Bud Black, players and broadcasters will take part in scheduled fan forums. The Padres' flagship radio station, The Mighty 1090, will broadcast live from Petco Park for the duration of the event, with live player interviews scheduled throughout the day.

Fans are invited to visit the Jerry Coleman statue between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. to record their favorite story or special message about the beloved Coleman, which will be used during the 2014 season in tributes to the late broadcaster. Coleman died on Jan. 5 at the age of 89.

Candidates for Petco Park's next public address announcer will showcase their skills live at FanFest. Fans will then be invited to participate in the search process through an online vote at padres.com and on social media.

FanFest will be the first opportunity for fans to purchase single-game tickets for all 2014 home games. Individual tickets will go on sale at 7:30 a.m. at the Petco Park box office, online at padres.com, by phone at 619-795-5555 and at all Ticketmaster locations.

Fans can also purchase Padres Packs on-site at #SDFanFest near the visitors' dugout. The packs, with options for three, six or nine games, will be available in three levels of the seating bowl, with prices starting at $59.