Ross retools swing while working in bullpen

SAN DIEGO -- Pitcher Tyson Ross made some noise with his right arm Wednesday, as he struck out the only five batters he faced in the Padres' 4-2 loss to the Giants at AT&T Park.

At some point soon, Ross hopes to make a little noise with his bat -- though he's had to retool his swing since suffering a subluxation of his left (non-throwing) shoulder swinging the bat in April.

Ross -- who began the season as the team's fifth starter -- landed on the disabled list on April 20 after he collected his first Major League hit, off the Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw, no less. Ross eventually returned but in the bullpen, where he didn't have to worry much about hitting. He's had two at-bats since coming back from the disabled list, striking out twice.

The Padres still envision Ross as a starting pitcher, though there's no telling when he'll get that chance to move back into the rotation.

Until then, he'll continue to hone a new swing -- a simple and easy swing -- that he's worked on with hitting coach Phil Plantier in recent weeks.

"It's cool," Ross said. "I haven't had hitting lessons since I was 12. I've taken everything [Plantier] tells me seriously. We've worked on the approach and adopting a different setup to keep me in a safe position to hit. It's nice and easy, more throwing the hands [at the ball]."