SAN DIEGO -- Tyson Ross last started on the Petco Park mound on April 4, 2016. He was roughed up by the Dodgers that Opening Day and was then placed on the disabled list with a shoulder injury that would force him to miss the remainder of the season. For a one-time All-Star, it was undoubtedly the roughest stretch in his now eight-year big league career.
Nearly two years to the day, Ross will set foot on that mound once again. The Padres plan to select Ross' contract from the Minors, and he'll serve as their fifth starter, pitching Tuesday's game against the Rockies.
"It was a long road back," said Ross, who arrived in San Diego on Monday afternoon. "I've just now started to feel like myself again."
Ross spent the entire 2016 season attempting to battle back from injury, but he never quite made it. He underwent surgery to address thoracic outlet syndrome that October. The Padres chose not to tender Ross a contract that winter, and he latched on with the Rangers.
If 2016 was the roughest season for Ross, the '17 campaign was nearly as much of a grind. He posted a 7.71 ERA over 12 appearances before he was released in September.
"I was pitching, but I wasn't myself," Ross said. "It took a long time. But it came back, and I'm thankful it did. I wasn't sure it was going to come back."
Ross claims he's a different pitcher now, with the benefit of a full offseason of work and recovery. His spring results seemed to back that assertion. He posted a 3.00 ERA over five Cactus League appearances.
In short, Ross says he feels like his old self -- the version of himself that posted a 3.07 ERA from 2013-15 with San Diego.
"This guy's worked incredibly hard to fight back from a shoulder injury and surgery," Padres manager Andy Green said. "His stuff is back. His stuff is really good. ... He's found himself again, glad it's in a Padres uniform."
Hedges scratched, Myers returns
One Padre returned from back tightness on Monday, while another was a late scratch for the same reason.
Right fielder William Myers was back in the starting lineup after missing Saturday's game with lower back tightness that has lingered since the end of Spring Training.
Meanwhile, catcher Austin Hedges was a late scratch because of upper-back tightness, the club said. There's no timetable yet for his return. Hedges was replaced by A.J. Ellis, who made his first appearance with the Padres.
Padres announce Minor League rosters
Over the past couple days, the Padres' Minor League affiliates announced their Opening Day rosters. Among the most notable assignments: 19-year-old shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. will open the season at Double-A San Antonio, while 20-year-old second baseman Luis Urias will start at Triple-A El Paso. Lefty starter MacKenzie Gore -- the No. 3 overall selection in last June's Draft -- will begin the season at Class A Fort Wayne.

Here's a breakdown of where the Padres' healthy Top 30 prospects will begin their Minor League seasons:
Triple-A El Paso: Urias (No. 3), Eric Lauer (No. 13), Jacob Nix (No. 14), Trey Wingenter (No. 21)
Double-A San Antonio: Tatis (No. 1), Cal Quantrill (No. 4), Logan Allen (No. 8), Josh Naylor (No. 16), Austin Allen (No. 29), Michael Gettys (No. 30)
Class A Advanced Lake Elsinore: Michel Baez (No. 5), Adrian Morejon (No. 6), Hudson Potts (No. 17), Jorge Ona (No. 18), Edward Olivares (No. 20), Chris Paddack (No. 23), Pedro Avila (No. 26), David Bednar (No. 28)
Class A Fort Wayne: Gore (No. 2), Gabriel Arias (No. 11), Esteury Ruiz (No. 12), Tirso Ornelas (No. 15), Jeisson Rosario (No. 19), Luis Campusano (No. 24), Mason Thompson (No. 25)
Not listed are catcher Luis Torrens and right-hander Miguel Diaz (who spent the 2017 season on the Major League roster as Rule 5 picks, negating their prospect status). Torrens will open at Lake Elsinore, while Diaz will start in San Antonio. Shortstop Allen Cordoba is on the Major League disabled list as he battles back from his concussion.