Worth noting

• The Padres have signed 27-year-old first baseman/outfielder Brandon Allen to a Minor League contract. Allen, who was released by the Rangers on April 1, has a .203/.290/.375 line over parts of four seasons with three teams. He will report to Triple-A Tucson. Allen hit a grand slam off San Diego reliever Luke Gregerson on Sept. 1, 2010.

• On Monday's day off, Black came to Petco Park for, among other things, to take a look at the ballpark modifications. In right-center field, the wall went from 402 feet to 391 feet and is eight feet high. The wall in left-center has been moved in from 402 feet to 390 feet.

"The wall is going to come into play a little bit. The shorter wall will impact balls hit to the wall," Black said. "Overall, the changes are positive. I was all for some subtle changes."

• Before Tuesday's sold-out home opener against the Dodgers, the Padres paid tribute to late bullpen coach Darrel Akerfelds, who passed away June 24, 2012, after a nearly two-year fight with pancreatic cancer. Former Padres closer Trevor Hoffman revealed a plaque out in the home bullpen during the ceremony.

• The ceremonial first pitch was thrown out by former Padres outfielder Greg Vaughn, the MVP of the 1999 NL champion team that lost to the Yankees in the World Series. Vaughn had 50 home runs and drove in 119 runs that season. Former teammate Carlos Hernandez, now a Spanish television broadcaster for the team, caught the pitch. On June 14, the Padres will celebrate the 15th anniversary of the 1998 season.