SAN DIEGO -- Padres infielder Greg Garcia played more big league ball in 2019 than ever before, setting career highs for games played (134) and plate appearances (372). He earned field time with his ability to play multiple positions, limit mistakes on defense and get on base (.364 OBP).

Having caught the eye of manager Andy Green this year, he’ll have to do it all over again with new skipper Jayce Tingler in 2020. That’s nothing new for Garcia, a 10-year pro who didn’t spend a full season in the Majors until ’17 and came to the Padres from the Cardinals via waivers a year ago.

“It’s funny,” Garcia said Friday, “in St. Louis, Albert Pujols talked to everybody and said, ‘In Spring Training every year, I’m out to win the first-base job.’ Of course, everyone knew he was going to be the first baseman, but if you go in with the mentality that you have a job, you’re going to get passed up by a lot of guys.

“That’s coming from a future Hall of Famer -- that he’s coming in to prove he’s one of the top 25, now 26 guys on the roster. That’s always been my mentality, too. Coming into Spring Training, same manager or not, I want to prove to the staff and to my teammates that I belong in the big leagues.”

Garcia does not regard a Major League spot as a given. Nor does he take the benefits of the big league lifestyle for granted. That’s one reason he joined former Padres player Mark Sweeney, team staff and community volunteers at the team’s annual Thanksgiving giveaway Friday morning at Petco Park.

More than 600 full Thanksgiving meals -- turkeys and side dishes -- were distributed to underserved families from the neighborhoods nearest to Petco Park, in partnership with the San Diego Food Bank and its direct distribution partners, including King Chavez Elementary School, Kimbrough Elementary School and Mariner’s Park on Naval Base San Diego.

Garcia grew up in the San Diego suburb of El Cajon, and his family’s history is intertwined with the Padres’. His grandfather, former Major League manager Dave Garcia, was on the Padres’ coaching staff from 1970-73 and managed a Padres farm club in 1969, the organization’s inaugural season as a National League expansion team.

“I was lucky, with my grandpa, to meet a lot of players,” Greg Garcia said. “They really affected my life in a positive way. I think that as a Major League baseball player, there’s a responsibility for us to set a good example for the community, especially for the younger kids, the boys and girls.

“That’s what we’re trying to do. I’m trying to pass on what was passed down to me. I’ve had a very fortunate life, and I’ve been really blessed. … The organization does a really great job giving opportunities to players to come out here and help. Anything we can do to give back.”

Since joining his hometown team on Nov. 1, 2018, Garcia has been a regular at Padres community events. Which means he has been busy. The Padres celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2019, and as part of that celebration, they launched the Padres Thank SD program, supporting charitable projects totaling more than $1 million over the year.

The Thanksgiving giveaway was but one such effort. Among the others:

• The Padres and Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County treated 200 kids in need to a day of fun and food at a golf and baseball simulator facility.

• The team made a $100,000 donation to the Kumeyaay Community College on the Sycuan Reservation.

• The Padres supported the renovation of the oldest Boys & Girls Club in San Diego, a branch that serves more than 2,000 young people a year.

• The Padres and USO San Diego helped with improvements to the Military Kids Club space at Dewey Elementary School.

• The organization donated a Padres-branded van to the Tijuana clinic Mi Estancia to transport children undergoing cancer treatment and their families.

• The Padres also partnered with Make-A-Wish San Diego, Veterans Village of San Diego, Miracle League of San Diego and Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego.

“It’s given us an opportunity to give back in a tangible way and on a bigger scale,” Padres president of business operations Erik Greupner said of the anniversary program. “It’s really allowed us to have a greater impact.”