PEORIA, Ariz. -- Ryan Schimpf's name hasn't been on the lineup card often this spring. That doesn't mean he hasn't been getting adequate work on the Padres' practice fields at the Peoria Sports Complex.
Schimpf -- who missed time early in camp for the birth of his son, and later with left oblique tightness -- has played in only five Cactus League games. He's 2-for-14 and has yet to establish a rhythm at the plate.
But Schimpf doesn't foresee any issues getting up to speed by Opening Day. In fact, he feels as though he's already close.
"There were probably only a couple days, maybe only two days, where I didn't do any baseball activity," Schimpf said. "For the most part I was doing as much as I could. The important thing was I was taking care of my body and getting my body feeling good. I don't remember the exact schedule, but I was still taking ground balls, still getting cuts in the cage."
Schimpf burst onto the scene with his brilliant second half last season. After being called up in mid-June, he launched 20 dingers and finished with an .869 OPS.
This spring, he finds himself in a battle for a starting job with Cory Spangenberg. Given the time Schimpf has missed, it's fair to say he has ground to make up.
It's unclear where, exactly, that positional duel is taking place. The Padres are determining whether second or third base is the best place for Yangervis Solarte. Schimpf and Spangenberg will compete for the other spot.
At the beginning of camp, second base was the most likely possibility. Now, the Padres seem content with all three players at either spot.
In any case, Schimpf says he's ready for both, and he touted the value of versatility.
"It's important, especially in the National League," Schimpf said. "There's always constant movement, double switches and all that. So versatility definitely helps. It gives us more options."
'If you don't like it, make a better pitch'
Count Padres skipper Andy Green among those who don't mind the raw emotion of the World Baseball Classic.
"That stuff doesn't bother me at all," Green said, when a reporter alluded to some particularly jubilant home run trots. "If you don't like it, make a better pitch. That's always been my perspective. If somebody has flair in the game, have flair."
Green added that he won't encourage his players either way. For those who don't readily show their emotions, there's no need to coax it out of them, he said. Similarly, he saw no purpose in trying to force his players to dial back their excitement.
"I'm not out there encouraging it actively," Green said. "But I think people love personality. I think people love real substance in competition. Baseball doesn't always give the opportunity to show those types of raw emotions. You saw the raw emotions in those games through the WBC. People enjoy that."
FanFest details announced
The Padres announced the details of their 2017 FanFest presented by T-Mobile, which will take place April 1 at Petco Park. Gates are slated to open at 10 a.m. PT for the general public. Entry is free, but fans in attendance must pre-register for up to eight tickets.
Current and former players, coaches and broadcasters will be available for autographs throughout the event. The Padres will take batting practice at 1 p.m., and kids will have the opportunity to run the bases afterward.