Padres notes: Who’s on first; Almonte at DH; Castillo optimism

(Getty Images) Jake Cronenworth takes off from first base in an exhibition game against the Angels.Eric Hosmer being sidelined by gastritis wasn’t the scenario they envisioned.

But, with the specter of COVID-19, the Padres did expect to have to fill a significant hole at some point this season. That’s why they started working Jake Cronenworth and Ty France at first base and Jurickson Profar in the outfield, among other contingency preparations.

“Everything Hosmer is, you just can’t replace — what he does in the clubhouse, certainly the way he has swung the stick and the way he catches the ball, all the experience,” manager Jayce Tingler said. “But we’ve had the mindset throughout that things…