Will Middlebrooks was the Padres' Opening Day third baseman, but he didn't hold onto the starting role for long. Solarte parlayed a hot start -- highlighted by a .321 batting average in April -- into an everyday job at the hot corner.
In 2015, his second full season as a starter, Solarte compiled a .270/.320/.428 line with 14 home runs and 63 RBIs. He thrived during the second half of the season, hitting .292 after the All-Star break. He posted a 1.6 WAR for the season, according to FanGraphs.
A switch-hitter, Solarte fared better hitting left-handed, posting a .