Padres notes: Randy Vásquez's support system, Will Wagner's opportunity

Yu Darvish has been in Randy Vásquez's corner since the younger pitcher reached out to the veteran in the wake of his trade from New York to San Diego.

It’s continued this year, even with Darvish on the restricted list. The two pitchers communicate often over the phone, through text messages and even in person.

Darvish was seated with Vásquez on his side of the clubhouse in the days after the 27-year-old’s fourth straight sub-par start.

"We've been looking at the video - myself, Darvish, (pitching coach Ruben) Niebla," Vásquez said Wednesday morning through interpreter Jorge Merlos. "We've all been looking at the video, and it's kind of gaining the confidence back of making sure I throw those pitches and not just, like, think about it so much. So just about regaining that confidence in myself to be able to execute those pitches."

Vásquez declined to speak to reporters after Sunday's start. He allowed four runs on eight hits - tied for a season-high - and two walks in continuing a four-start rut, all Padres losses, in which he posted a 6.16 ERA. Vásquez has allowed six homers in his last 19 innings after surrendering just four in 50⅓ innings as the Padres went 8-1 over his first nine starts (2.68 ERA).

"I think it’s more of those middle-middle pitches that I leave hanging in middle of the plate," Vásquez said. "But I did a little bit of a touch-and-feel here (in the bullpen) after my last start and trying to work on those things for the next start."

That next start is slated for Saturday in Baltimore. For all of his struggles as of late, Vásquez is still sporting a 3.63 ERA through 69⅓ innings.

"I think if you’ve taken a look at the last couple starts, you’ve seen that it’s been the location of my pitches and just execution of my pitches too," said Vásquez, who is averaging a career-high 94.9 mph with his four-seamer. "But if you take a look at the rest of the season, there’s a lot more to go … and I still think it’s been a pretty good season so far."

A real opportunity

The Padres acquired Will Wagner from the Blue Jays at last year's deadline, stashed him for three weeks at Triple-A El Paso and then used him rather sparingly in the majors.

In fact, before going 1-for-3 on the last day of the regular season, Wagner received no more than one plate appearance in any of his first 14 games as a Padre.

That's no way to get into a rhythm, but this is: The 27-year-old infielder replaced Xander Bogaerts (paternity list) on the active roster on Tuesday, started at DH and went 1-for-2 with a walk.

Wagner started again at DH on Wednesday and went 2-for-2 with a double and a walk.

"It’s cool," Wagner said of playing and producing right away. "I just try to come in here and be the best I can, try to stay present and not look to try to do too much at the plate. Just try to get on base for the guys behind me."

Wagner went 2-for-15 as a Padres bench player last season after hitting .270/.333/.405 with two homers in 17 games last year with Triple-A El Paso.

"It was tough," Wagner said. "I was trying to fit the role. I know when I came here, my role was to pinch-hit. I knew I wasn’t going to be getting as many starts. I just trained in cages as much as possible and tried to get in a routine. I mean, it’s hard to pinch hit, but any time you can go up there and get a good at-bat, that’s what (it's about)."

Wagner's staying power for this stint remains to be seen.

Bogaerts is expected to rejoin the team on Friday in Baltimore. Sung-Mun Song (.529 OPS) remains the best option as a backup shortstop until Jake Cronenworth returns from the injured list, but the left-handed Wagner has impressed the big-league coaching staff in a small sample.

Wagner has some versatility: He started seven games at second base, five at first base, five at third base and four in left field while hitting .255/.381/.382 with three homers in 30 games this year for Triple-A El Paso.

"(He) reminds me of Jake Cronenworth," Stammen said. "Those at-bats that we missed from Jake, you know, just the professional, consistent at-bat. He looks very similar in the box, and I think when we traded for him last year, we felt like that’s the type of at-bat we were going to get, is somebody who could control the zone and handle some right-handed pitching for us. So he’s definitely, in two days, has impressed us greatly. Not that we didn’t know this before, he just didn’t have as much of an opportunity, but he’s going to get some more opportunities going forward."

Notable

• Miguel Andujar has two pinch-hit appearances since leaving Sunday's game with a tweaked left hamstring. He was intentionally walked and immediately lifted from Tuesday's game; he grounded out to third base in the eighth inning on Wednesday.
• The Padres have signed 1B Nick Pratto to a minor league deal and assigned him to Triple-A El Paso. A former first-round pick, Pratto, 27, has 14 homers and a .216/.295/.364 batting line across two seasons (2022-23) with the Royals. He was hitting .237/.287/.473 with five homers in 26 games at Triple-A Round Rock when he was released this week.

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This story was originally published June 10, 2026 at 2:04 PM.