A strong spring is pushing left-hander Jackson Wolf on the Padres’ radar
Peoria, AZ – February 20: Jackson Wolf #43 of the San Diego Padres pitches a spring training game game against the Seattle Mariners on February 20, 2026 in Peoria, AZ. He was sent down the next day, traded nine days after that and has yet to pitch in the majors again.
“It’s much more of a motivational piece than anything,” Wolf said of his call-up. “And it was so short-lived. Yes, you can say you did it, but it doesn’t even really feel like you did it. It doesn’t have that sweet feeling. You want to get there, and you want to stay there. You want to prove to everybody why you are a big leaguer. “You can say you’re a big leaguer because you had that one day. But when you say that, you can’t really say it with your full heart when you know you were kind of just a little piece of that day. So to be a full-standing piece for the long term in San Diego, that would be much more fulfilling.” The 26-year-old left-hander has surprised the Padres this spring by working himself to the brink of his goal. “I think at the beginning, showing up, we probably weren’t considering him,” manager Craig Stammen said. “And then sometimes people show you things that you weren’t expecting or they show a level of confidence that it’s like, ‘All right, we can maybe see a future for this guy.’” What Wolf has done is likely not enough to beat out left-hander Kyle Hart or Logan Gillaspie for a spot in the Padres’ bullpen as a “bridge” reliever who can work multiple innings in the middle of games. Hart and Gillaspie have more experience and are both pitching as well as the Padres have seen.“I just want to get back,” Wolf said recently. He was pitching in Double-A when the Padres called him up to start against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on July 22, 2023. He worked through a rain delay, allowed three runs in five innings and got the decision in a 14-3 victory. He arrived at the ballpark the next day and was told he was headed back to San Antonio. He received even bigger news a week-and-a-half later — that he had been traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates. He spent the rest of that season in Double-A before being reacquired by the Padres in a trade on April 2, 2024. He has over the past two seasons posted a 6.21 ERA over 192⅔ innings in 48 Triple-A games and 3.49 ERA in 38⅔ innings in 12 Double-A games . “I would say consistency,” Wolf said of why believes he hasn’t made it back to the big leagues. “I think a piece can know that is going to get it done with full certainty. … I don’t think that they don’t have confidence in me. It’s more so, like, ‘We want you to prove to us that you are a full long-term big leaguer and whenever we call your name you’ll get it done.’” After starting the Padres’ first Cactus League game and allowing two runs in 1⅔ innings, Wolf has strung together 7⅔ scoreless innings over his past five appearances. He is throwing more strikes, especially to get ahead.“He’s getting more looks,” bullpen coach Ben Fritz said. “He has different pitches, gives you a different look, and he commands it. And there’s funk to it.” Regarding the new role, Wolf said, “Whatever the big-league team needs me to do to help them win. I just want to be with these guys — and not just in March.”rejoined the Padres clubhouse on Friday after a nearly two-week absence to play for The Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic. He did not travel to Mesa for the Cactus League game against the Athletics as he hit and participated in team fundamentals at the Peoria Sports Complex. He’ll be back in a lineup for one Saturday’s split-squad games, but he won’t be playing nine innings. And it will take some adjustment as Bogaerts settles back into an exhibition setting after representing Aruba for four games in a charged environment. “That I know for sure; it’s not that fun,” Bogaerts said with a laugh. “ … Spring training, do you need it? Yes, I do need it. But it’s just something about the games. It’s just harder, you know, because you have nothing playing for. You’re trying to prepare, trying to get ready. It’s just a different adrenaline. And playing against Venezuela, like we know we need that win the first game. …Bogaerts went 5-for-15 with a double, walk and stolen base in four games. Perhaps most important for his preparation for the season, the 33-year-old was playing nine-inning games in early March. “I’ve been playing nine innings, so I feel good,” Bogaerts said. “I think that’s one of the benefits that I’ve had so far. … Didn’t know how I was going to do it in the beginning, but, yeah, I think I feel good so far. Better than I thought.”Instead, he will throw another simulated game before his scheduled Cactus League debut on Tuesday. The Padres are being cautious with the right-handed reliever who has been among the best setup men in the major leagues the past four seasons. Adam’s 2025 ended when he ruptured his left quad tendon on Sept. 1 and had surgery. He has been throwing off a mound since early December. But he began doing agility drills after spring training started last month and fielding balls a few weeks ago.Sung-Mun Song took 25 swings off a tee on Thursday as he begins to ramp up activity. Opening day is less than two weeks away, but the 29-year-old Korean import is keeping things in perspective after tweaking his oblique a second time. “Obviously, it’s the team’s decision whether I’m on the opening roster or not,” Song said through interpreter Jun Yi. “ … Hopefully it’s better than … whenever I got injured last time , so hopefully I can recover fast.” He added: “I’m definitely not in a rush since my oblique was injured two times. But if the body feels fine, I can push myself.”Photos: USS Nimitz returnsUCSD study detects dementia risk decades before symptoms appearAlleged scammer in $3M fraud of San Diego couple was fatally struck on I-5 while fleeing police2 plead guilty to running fake charity involving concessions at Petco Park and Snapdragon Stadium
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